Ginger has been used as a spice for several thousand years. The plant is native to the tropical coastal regions of India, but has spread to most subtropical and tropical regions in the world. Nigerian and Jamaican ginger have historically been important in the production of ginger essential oil. Ginger rhizomes are generally dried prior to distillation of the essential oil, although fresh ginger essential oils can now be purchased from specialty providers.

Ginger absolutes are also produced using hydrocarbon solvents and alcohol extraction. Arctander writes, “In perfumes, ginger absolute may introduce the most interesting and surprising notes in high-class lotion perfumes, etc., or in the so-called “men’s fragrances” in the spicy series, after-shaves, etc. It blends excellently with animal notes (castoreum, civet, costus, labdanum), with woody notes (sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, linalool, olibanum, etc.), with floral notes and in many types of modern fantasy fragrances.”

Ginger is widely used in cuisine and herbal medicine. In Ayurveda, ginger is known as the ‘Universal Medicine’ for its ability to address a broad range of health issues across constitutions. Most herbal preparations use dried ginger, which may be too warming for some, in which case fresh ginger may be tolerated more easily.

Ginger Aromatic Properties and Chemical Composition

Fresh ginger essential oil

Fresh, Sharp, Spicy: Alpha-zingiberene (30%) bring the unique spicy freshness of fresh ginger oil. Camphene (6%), beta-Phellandrene (4%) and cineole (3%) add a mint, eucalyptus, medicinal edge.

Herbal, fruity: beta-sesquiphellandrene (15%) is herbal, fruity, and woody.

Balsamic: beta-Bisabolene (10%) brings a smoother balsamic note to the woodiness also present in other compounds.

Ginger essential oil

Warm, woody, fresh, spicy with a sweet balsamic-floral undertone. Jamaican ginger oil is lighter in color and more mobile than African ginger, with a stronger orange-coriander note. African ginger oil is darker in color and has a fattier sweetness.

The chemical composition is similar to fresh ginger essential oil, but with a higher percentage of bisabolene compounds, lending a smoother, balsamic and floral note more the forefront. Cineole and camphene levels are also a bit lower, reducing the diffusive, medicinal effect.

Ginger absolute

True representation of the dried rhizome, but concentrated many times. The absolute is rich, sweet, and spicy while retaining the lemon-orange topnotes in essential oil.