In an effort to identify chemicals for post‐emergence control of broomrape,Orobanche cernuaLoefl, on tobacco, 3 mineral oils (diesel oil, kerosene and thinner oil used in paints) and 12 plant oils(viz.castor oil, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, dalda, gingelly oil, groundnut oil, linseed oil, mustard oil, neem oil, palm oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil) were tested.The oils were applied on young shoots (unflowered) at one, two, three, four and five drops/shoot with a dropper. All three mineral oils showed quick knock‐down effect within 24 hours: plant oils, except dalda, were also effective but slow in action. The optimum dosages were one or two drops/shoot. Mineral oils were phytotoxic to tobacco leaf and plant oils were not. An applicator was developed to apply oils by swab method in field.