Scent Almanac

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Ginger

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Middle (heart) note Spicy Citrus Essential oil

Warm and spicy-woody with a zesty, lemony top. It smells more like dried root and candied ginger than fresh-cut root, with a slightly earthy edge.

Made from
Steam-distilled from the dried (or sometimes fresh) rhizome.
Strength
●●●○○
Cost
Moderate
Moods
EnergizingCozyUplifting
Seasons
Autumn, Winter
Rooms
Kitchen, Living room, Office
Blend with it
No special cautions at normal use.

How it behaves

CandlesWorkable

The essential oil throws quietly in wax. Most 'ginger' candles use a fragrance oil and keep the EO as a warm accent.

Wax meltsGood
Reed diffuserGood
Room & linen sprayGood
Electric (water) diffuserGreat

Pairs nicely with citrus for a bright, warming diffuser blend.

Cold-process soapGood
Melt-and-pour soapGood
Laundry & cleaningWorkable

Pairs well with

Sweet Orange
Sweet Orange
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Lemon
Lemon
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Lime
Lime
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Cardamom
Cardamom
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Cinnamon Leaf
Cinnamon Leaf
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Vanilla
Vanilla
Base · Gourmand
Fragrance oil
Black Pepper
Black Pepper
Top · Spicy
Essential oil
Pear
Pear
Top · Fruity
Fragrance oil
White Tea
White Tea
Top · Fresh & clean
Fragrance oil

Don't have it? Try Cardamom, Black Pepper.

In these blends

Kitchen Window
Lemons, fresh ginger and a cutting board — a kitchen that smells cleaned.
Lemon · Ginger · Lemongrass · Virginian Cedarwood · Lime
Top 33% Middle 47% Base 20%
EnergizingCleanSummerSpring
Apple Orchard
Picking apples on a cold, bright October morning, cider warming at the stand.
Apple · Brown Sugar · Cinnamon Leaf · Ginger · Pear · Nutmeg
Top 31% Middle 44% Base 25%
CozyNostalgicUpliftingAutumn
Spiced Chai Latte
A mug of milky chai with cardamom and ginger on a rainy afternoon.
Chai · Mandarin · Vanilla · Tonka Bean · Cardamom · Ginger
Top 24% Middle 53% Base 24%
CozyCalmingAutumnWinter
Cranberry Wassail
A simmer pot of cranberries, orange peel and spice on the back burner.
Cranberry · Cinnamon Leaf · Ginger · Brown Sugar · Sweet Orange · Clove Bud
Top 33% Middle 47% Base 20%
FestiveCozyWinterAutumn
Green Tea & Lemongrass
A bamboo-screened tea room with a pot of green tea just poured.
Green Tea · Lemongrass · Bamboo · Hinoki · Lime · Ginger
Top 31% Middle 50% Base 19%
FocusingRefreshingSpringSummer

A little lore

Ginger has been cultivated in tropical Asia for so long that it is no longer known in the wild.

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