The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PATCHOULI
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result PATCHOULI
- Aromatic fragrance knocked caliph out
- Up at loch when swimming one finds scented shrub
- Chat-up line is one primarily about essential oil
- Even slices of apple pie have a filling that’s a touch strange
- Area of land left in agreement from France to produce essential oil
- Chum and I including odd touch, an Asian shrub
- Uncommon touch possessed by friend, one identifying perfume ingredient
- Aromatic shrub in beauty spot essentially ghoulish
- Oil wheels with chat-up and perfume
- Aromatic oil, dressing on distilled coulis
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "essential oil" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case essential oil = patchouli.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PATCHOULI mean?
PATCHOULI noun- Any of several East Indian plants in the genus Pogostemon, especially Pogostemon cablin, which yield a highly fragrant oil.
- The oil or perfume made from these plants.