Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale Roscoe.
Synonyms: Common ginger; Jamaican ginger; shunthi; ardraka.
Origin: Native to Asia probably northeastern India. Widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries including Nigeria, India, Africa, Jamaica, China, Japan, Australia. Most of the oil is distilled in India, China and the UK.
Botanical Description: An herbaceous erect perennial herb up to 1-meter (2-4 ft.) high. It has tuber like rhizomes with green reed like stalk and narrow spear-shaped leaves and white or yellow flowers on a spike direct from the root. Each flower has three yellowish orange petals with a purplish, lip-like structure.
Extraction: Essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dried ground rhizomes. The oil is pale yellow to light amber mobile liquid. Yield 0.25 to 1.2%.
Aroma Profile: Ginger essential oil has a warm, fresh woody top note. The middle note is sweet, heavy, almost balsamic-floral. The dry out is sweet, balsamic.
Major Constituents: Zingiberene (40%), ar-curcumene (20%).
Adulterants: Galanga oil.
Regulatory Status: GRAS 182.20.
Aromatherapy: Ginger essential oil is balancing, normalizing.
Blends well with: Sandalwood, patchouli, rosewood, cedarwood, rose, coriander, frankincense, lime, orange, neroli, vetiver, bergamot.
Safety Data: Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing. Slightly phototoxic.