Essence vs. Essential — What's the Difference?

Essence (Latin: essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. Essence is contrasted with accident: a property that the entity or substance has contingently, without which the substance can still retain its identity.

Constituting or being part of the nature or essence of something; inherent

The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character

Fundamentally important or necessary

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter and used for flavouring or scent

(Medicine) Of, relating to, or being a condition or a disease whose cause is unknown

The intrinsic or indispensable quality or qualities that serve to characterize or identify something

(Biochemistry) Being a substance that is required for normal functioning but cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore must be included in the diet

(Philosophy) The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things, especially as contrasted with its existence.

Something fundamental.

The most important part or aspect of something

Something necessary or indispensable.

An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.

Necessary.

Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.

Very important; of high importance.

A perfume or scent.

(biology) Necessary for survival but not synthesized by the organism, thus needing to be ingested.

One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated

Being in the basic form; showing its essence.

Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.

Really existing; existent.

The inherent nature of a thing or idea.

(geometry) Such that each complementary region is irreducible, the boundary of each complementary region is incompressible by disks and monogons in the complementary region, and no leaf is a sphere or a torus bounding a solid torus in the manifold.

(philosophy) The true nature of anything, not accidental or illusory.

(medicine) Idiopathic.

Constituent substance.

Having the nature of essence; not physical.

A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.

A necessary ingredient.

A significant feature of something.

A fundamental ingredient.

The concentrated form of a plant or drug obtained through a distillation process.

Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is.

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter used for flavouring, or as a restorative.

Hence, really existing; existent.

Fragrance, a perfume.

Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the attainment of an object; indispensably necessary.

The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.

Containing the essence or characteristic portion of a substance, as of a plant; highly rectified; pure; hence, unmixed; as, an essential oil.

The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.

Necessary; indispensable; - said of those tones which constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental or passing tones.

Constituent substance.

Idiopathic; independent of other diseases.

A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.

Existence; being.

The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of mint, and the like.

That which is essential; first or constituent principle; as, the essentials of religion.

Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.

Anything indispensable;

To perfume; to scent.

Absolutely necessary; vitally necessary;

The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;

Basic and fundamental;

Any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted

Of the greatest importance;

The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

Being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc;

A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right;

Absolutely required and not to be used up or sacrificed