Contents: Preface. Abbreviations. 1. What are essentials oils? 2. Species and condiments. 3. Overview of the work on flavouring and fragrant plants. 4. Presentation and arrangement of data. 5. Flavouring and fragrant plants. 6. Conclusion. 7. Literature cited. Appendices: i. Total number of genera and spices of flavouring and fragrant plants under various divisions of plant kingdom. ii. Families of flavouring and fragrant plants. iii. Flavouring and fragrant species under a genus. iv. Index to Botanical names. v. Index to English names. vi. Index to Sanskrit names. vii. Index to Hindi names.

From the Preface: "Present volume is an endeavour towards bringing together widely scattered and diffused information on ethnic Indian flavouring and fragrant plants from disparate sources to form a highly structured work of reference to the world at large. As many as 625 species of plants belonging to 331 genera under 121 families have been enlisted alphabetically by genera and species, of which 3 species (3 genera) belong to Algae, 23 species (11 genera) to Lichens, 3 species (2 genera) to Pteridophytes, 16 species (9 genera) to Gymnosperms and 580 species (356 genera) to Angiosperms. For easy comprehension by laymen and specialists alike, the data given in each species include correct botanical name, synonyms, family, English, Sanskrit, and Hindi names, distribution, part/s used, procedural details of utilisation, active principles and the original source of information for authenticity in most cases. By and large, the flavouring and fragrant plants belong to Lamiaceae (56 species), Apiaceae (35 species), Zingiberaceae (35 species), Asteraceae (31 species), Rutaceae (28 species), Rosaceae (27species), Liliaceae (19 species), Lauraceae (17 species), Myrtaceae (14 species), Poaceae (13 species), Brassicaceae (12 species), etc. For familiarizing the reader with flavouring and fragrant plants, colour photographs have been included in the text. It is earnestly hoped that the synthesis provided will certainly bridge the gap between the traditional users and scientific fraternity and also it can be put to use for commercial exploitation in the Country."