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Why did essential oils become more important in foods, beverages, and perfumes than in medicines?

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The chemistry behind craft beer — Essential oil Discover the chemistry of brewing different types and colours of beer.

The shift in the primary use of essential oils from medicine to food, beverages, and perfumes was driven largely by advancements in scientific understanding.1

Historically, essential oils were a specialty of medieval pharmacies, and their use in medicine was stimulated by the alchemical theories of the physician Paracelsus. However, as chemical knowledge expanded significantly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the ability to characterize these substances improved. This deeper scientific insight led to a sharp expansion in the production and commercial application of volatile oils, causing their role in medicine to become subordinate to their widespread use as flavorings and fragrances.1

Today, essential oils are commercially utilized in three primary ways: as odorants in perfumes, cosmetics, and industrial products; as flavors in various food products; and to a diminishing extent, as ingredients in dental products and a limited group of medicines.1