GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Galangal (False Ginger)
Kaempferia galanga L.
Chemotype: ethyl p-methoxycinnamate / ethyl cinnamate type
- PLANT PART
- root (rhizome)
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- 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
- 78 / 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
- No restriction cited
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- low
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
Read the complete safety guideExplore 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
The false-ginger galangal record is mapped to Kaempferia galanga based on supplier naming and existing archive naming clues. Public recent chemistry data show a cinnamate-ester dominant oil led by trans ethyl p-methoxycinnamate and trans ethyl cinnamate rather than the cineole-heavy profile typical of greater galangal.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trans Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate | 32.01% | 32.01–32.01% | phenylpropanoid ester | View sourceChemical composition of the Kaempferia galanga L. essential oil and its antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo Results section: trans ethyl p-methoxycinnamate 32.01% |
| n-Pentadecane | 29.14% | 29.14–29.14% | alkane hydrocarbon | View sourceChemical composition of the Kaempferia galanga L. essential oil and its antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo Results section: n-pentadecane 29.14% |
| trans Ethyl cinnamate | 19.5% | 19.5–19.5% | phenylpropanoid ester | View sourceChemical composition of the Kaempferia galanga L. essential oil and its antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo Results section: trans ethyl cinnamate 19.50% |
| cis-Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate | 2.09% | — | phenylpropanoid ester | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Heptadecane | 1.51% | — | aliphatic hydrocarbon (alkane) | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| 3-Caren-5-one | 1.31% | — | monoterpene ketone | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| 8-Heptadecene | 1.06% | — | aliphatic hydrocarbon (alkene) | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| endo-Borneol | 1.02% | — | bicyclic monoterpene alcohol | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| gamma-Cadinene | 0.81% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Tetradecane | 0.75% | — | aliphatic hydrocarbon (alkane) | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Cyperene | 0.73% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| 1,8-Cineole | 0.49% | — | monoterpene oxide | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| 6,9-Heptadecadiene | 0.49% | — | aliphatic hydrocarbon (diene) | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| 3-Carene-2,5-dione | 0.44% | — | monoterpene diketone | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Anisaldehyde dimethyl acetal | 0.43% | — | aromatic acetal | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| p-Anisaldehyde (4-methoxybenzaldehyde) | 0.4% | — | aromatic aldehyde | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Ethyl 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate | 0.38% | — | phenylpropanoid ester | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| 2-Caren-4-ol | 0.36% | — | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Ethyl linoleate | 0.29% | — | fatty acid ethyl ester | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Germacrene B | 0.28% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| p-Mentha-1,5-dien-8-ol | 0.24% | — | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| p-Cymen-8-ol | 0.24% | — | aromatic monoterpene alcohol | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Humulene 6,7-epoxide (humulene epoxide II) | 0.24% | — | oxygenated sesquiterpene | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| n-Pentadecanol | 0.23% | — | fatty alcohol | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Eucarvone | 0.21% | — | monoterpene ketone | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| Ethyl palmitate (ethyl hexadecanoate) | 0.16% | — | fatty acid ethyl ester | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
| alpha-Gurjunene | 0.14% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceKaempferia galanga rhizome EO, Front. Nutr. 2023, Table 1 (PMC9932537) - same 28-compound analysis that our record's three majors came from |
Profile source: Chemical composition of the Kaempferia galanga L. essential oil and its antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo; Galangal Oil all docs - Madar Corporation · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9932537/ ; https://www.madarcorporation.com/spec-sheets/essential-oil/galangal/Galangal%20-%204572714%20All%20docs.pdf
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 Southeast Asian aromatic and culinary traditions for a warming, spicy character
- reported to be used in massage blends for a warming sensation
- used in perfumery for its sweet, balsamic, cinnamon-like note
- traditionally associated with festive, ceremonial fragrancing in Southeast Asia
- shares the traditional warming reputation of other cinnamate-rich aromatic rhizome oils
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 · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The odor_intensity value is a normalization of supplier/spec language describing the oil as camphor-like and characteristic rather than a published 0-100 panel score.
- The accessible public composition source used in this pass exposed three major constituents clearly in the article text; additional quantified minor constituents would require a full GC table source.