essence

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story"

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

the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor