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Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Aromatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons that give off a distinct odor. Hydrocarbons are molecules derived from a combination of hydrogen and carbon. Most of the molecules that make up living creatures are hydrocarbons; the reason hydrocarbons are found in crude is because it is the product of plankton carcasses from millions of years ago. Hydrocarbons are combustible substances that store a great deal of energy, hence their usefulness as an energy source.
Napthenes
Napthenes are organic compounds of the cycloalkene family. The word "cyclo" in cycloalkene are based on a cyclical structure of the chemical bonds; one atom is connected to another, connected to another, and so on -- until a bond is made again with the original atom. While Napthenes are technically hydrocarbons, they are considered a distinct class of substances because of their unique structure.
Paraffins
Paraffins are a unique type of chlorinated hydrocarbon. The main distinction between paraffins and aromatic hydrocarbons is that the former do not have chlorine; whereas the latter do. The main difference between paraffins and chlorinated napthenes is that napthenes have a cyclical structure; whereas paraffins have a straight structure.
Sulphur/Nitrogen Compounds
Sulphur- and nitrogen-based compounds make up a small percentage of the material in crude oil. Unlike hydrocarbons, sulphur and nitrogen based compounds are not organic. Instead, they occur as a product of the breakdown of organic materials. Sulphur, for example, is produced by the digestive system, and is given off as animals decompose. The sulphur and nitrogen found in crude oil are pure elements, rather than complex molecules like the hydrocarbons.