GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Cardamom Guatemala
Elettaria cardamomum
Chemotype: alpha-terpinyl-acetate / 1,8-cineole type
- PLANT PART
- seeds
- EXTRACTION
- hydrodiffusion
- AROMA NOTE
- mid
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 75 / 100
- Note layer
- mid
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- 10%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
The reviewed Guatemala cardamom sources do not identify this seed oil as a furocoumarin-driven phototoxic oil.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateBecause of its 1,8-cineole content, cardamom oil should not be applied on or near the face of infants and young children.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This record is anchored to public Guatemala-origin cardamom sources. Selah's live product page verifies the Guatemala origin and seed extraction for this retail oil, while Plant Therapy's Guatemala GC/MS sheet provides directly readable batch composition percentages for the same species and origin. The odor profile is supported by multiple Guatemala-specific perfumery descriptions aggregated on GoodScents and the IES ingredients page.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-Terpinyl acetate | 37.6% | 37.6–37.6% | monoterpene ester | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; alpha-terpinyl acetate 37.6%) |
| 1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol) | 30.7% | 30.7–30.7% | oxide | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; 1,8-cineole 30.7%) |
| Linalyl acetate | 5.4% | 5.4–5.4% | monoterpene ester | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; linalyl acetate 5.4%) |
| Sabinene | 5% | 5–5% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; sabinene 5.0%) |
| Linalool | 4.4% | 4.4–4.4% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; linalool 4.4%) |
| Limonene | 2.4% | 2.4–2.4% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; limonene 2.4%) |
| Myrcene | 2.1% | 2.1–2.1% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; myrcene 2.1%) |
| alpha-Terpineol | 1.9% | 1.9–1.9% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; alpha-terpineol 1.9%) |
| alpha-Pinene | 1.8% | 1.8–1.8% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceGC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf (origin Guatemala; alpha-pinene 1.8%) |
Profile source: Cardamom Essential Oil; GC/MS Batch Number CA3100 Cardamom; Cardamom Essential Oil Guatemala · https://www.selahessentialoils.com/products/cardamom-essential-oil ; https://home-aromatherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cardamom-CA3100.pdf ; https://ies-ingredients.com/en/produit/cardamom-essential-oil-guatemala/
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for warming, uplifting, and digestive comfort
- reported use in blends associated with easing occasional digestive unease
- used in perfumery for a warm, spicy-sweet, slightly camphoraceous note
- traditionally associated with Ayurvedic and Middle Eastern culinary-aromatic traditions
- reported use in massage blends for a warming, comforting sensory experience
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The `odor_intensity` value is an archive normalization of qualitative Guatemala-specific aroma descriptions such as 'spicy, lemony, citral-like, green, cineolic' and 'the most penetrating, fresh and volatile of the origins', not a native published 0-100 measurement.
- The `max_dermal_pct` value of 10 is sourced from a publicly stated Guatemala cardamom product-page maximum adult topical dilution, not from a directly readable IFRA or Tisserand monograph page.
- No public source reviewed in this pass exposed source-backed volatility-rate or tenacity-hour figures for this Guatemala cardamom oil.