| NATURE | Inherent essence or character (6) |
| MARROW | Tissue in bones, hence a vital part or essence; or, a large courgette (6) |
| NUTOIL | Term for nuciferous oleaginous essence or extract of almonds, argan seeds, Brazils, noisettes or other kernels for cookery, cosmetics or conditioning one's coif (3,3) |
| IMPORT | The essence or gist of something (6) |
| TRAITS | An old word for the pen or pencil strokes in pictures, which came to mean distinguishing features or peculiarities of mind or character (6) |
| GENTLE | Having a mild or kind nature or character (6) |
| DEMEAN | Lower oneself in dignity, status or character (6) |
| SPELLS | Influences that can control the mind or character (6) |
| METTLE | Quality or character of eg iron, say (6) |
| SYMBOL | Mark or character that represents an object (6) |
| MACULA | Blot, stain or character defect |
| SOUL | Psyche or spirit; essence or essential part; sound-post or "anima" of a violin; or, the lungs of a goose (4) |
| JUICE | From "broth, sauce, soup", a word for the liquid present in or extracted from fruit and vegetables; a drink made from said nectar; essence or vitality; or, electrical energy (5) |
| PITH | Essence or core |
| ODOR | Essence or incense |
| ISSUE | Copy of Essence or Elle |
| SCENT | Hunting term for a hound's sense of smell that came to mean cologne, essence or other pleasant perfume (5) |
| SLURS | Denigrates or spoils the name or character of |
| AKIN | Of similar or kindred spirit or character |
| EPIC | Heroic or grand in scale or character (4) |
