Essence is the feminine noun with Latin origin essence and that indicates the nature, substance or essential characteristic of a person or thing. It can also refer to a aroma or perfume.
Essence represents the fundamental manifestations or substance of being, and essence can be something in common or something that distinguishes some elements from others.
Within the scope of philosophy and of the metaphysics, the essence of someone are the characteristic elements of being, such as rationality, for example, which is part of the essence of the human being. In this case, essence is a representation of what is common, universal and at the heart of someone or something.
In some contexts, the word essence represents the main idea of some work or theme.Ex: God's love is the essence of the Bible.
An essence is can also be a volatile liquid, or an oily, aromatic substance that is extracted from some plants. In some cases, essence is also synonymous with perfume.
In the context of chemistry, an essence is a solution (often containing alcohol) of essential oils or other plant substances. Essences are used in the pharmaceutical industry, but they are also incorporated in foods and perfumes, to impart certain flavors or smells.
Some of the most famous essences are: vanilla essence, turpentine, orange, rose, eucalyptus, citronella, etc.