Ginger

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

spicygingercitruswoodyterpeniccamphoreousearthy

PLANT PART: rhizome
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: mid-base

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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.

I’m interested in

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

spicygingercitruswoodyterpeniccamphoreousearthy

Aroma intensity: 60 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: mid-base
Approximate tenacity: 292–292 hours

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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: 60%
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.

No public phototoxicity restriction was identified for steam-distilled ginger rhizome essential oil in the sources reviewed during this pass.

Contraindications & cautions

minorPublic cosmetic-safety review notes potential sensitizers such as citronellol in ginger-derived ingredients and advises formulators to avoid sensitizing concentrations.

Read the complete safety guide

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

15 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

ISO 16928:2014 defines steam-distilled ginger rhizome oil across China, India, and West Africa as a sesquiterpene-rich oil led by alpha-zingiberene, beta-sesquiphellandrene, ar-curcumene, beta-bisabolene, camphene, and alpha-pinene, with smaller citral-related aldehydes and geraniol. The lot-specific public GC-MS sheet reviewed in this pass sits inside the ISO ranges and supplies exact typical percentages for a current commercial steam-distilled ginger root oil.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
alpha-Zingiberene	37.89%	29–45%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) ISO 16928:2014 Table 1 (China 29.0-40.0%, India 35.0-40.0%, West Africa 23.0-45.0% for alpha-zingiberene) at https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, alpha zingiberene 37.89%)
beta-Sesquiphellandrene	12.18%	8–17%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) ISO 16928:2014 Table 1 (China 10.0-14.0%, India 11.5-13.5%, West Africa 8.0-17.0% for beta-sesquiphellandrene) at https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, beta sesquiphellandrene 12.18%)
ar-Curcumene	8.83%	3–11%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) ISO 16928:2014 Table 1 (China 5.0-11.0%, India 6.5-9.0%, West Africa 3.0-11.0% for ar-curcumene) at https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, curcumene 8.83%)
beta-Bisabolene	10.2%	2.5–10.5%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) ISO 16928:2014 Table 1 (China 2.5-9.0%, India 2.5-5.5%, West Africa 3.0-7.0% for beta-bisabolene) at https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, beta-bisabolene 10.2%; report specification 5.0-10.5%)
Camphene	6.25%	0.2–12%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) ISO 16928:2014 Table 1 (China 4.5-10.0%, India 5.0-8.0%, West Africa 0.2-12.0% for camphene) at https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, camphene 6.25%)
alpha-Pinene	2.31%	0.1–6%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) ISO 16928:2014 Table 1 (China 1.5-2.5%, India 2.0-6.0%, West Africa 0.1-3.0% for alpha-pinene) at https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, alpha pinene 2.31%)
Limonene	5.11%	3–12%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, limonene 5.11%; report specification 3.0-12.0%)
Geranial	1.75%	0–3.5%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe] https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf (Table 1: geranial China n.d.-0.6%, India 0.1-0.6%, West Africa 0.5-3.5%; pct_typical set to midpoint of cited range because no distinct typical value was published)
Neral	1%	0–2%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe] https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf (Table 1: neral China n.d.-0.5%, India 0.1-0.4%, West Africa 0.2-2.0%; pct_typical set to midpoint of cited range because no distinct typical value was published)
Geraniol	1.8%	0.1–3.5%	monoterpene alcohol	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe] https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf (Table 1: geraniol China 0.1-1.0%, India 0.1-0.6%, West Africa 0.1-3.5%; pct_typical set to midpoint of the widest cited West Africa range because no distinct typical value was published)
beta-Elemene	0.5%	0–1.5%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe] https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf (Table 1: beta-elemene China 0.5-1.5%, India 0.6-1.1%, West Africa n.d.-1.0%; pct_typical set to midpoint of the West Africa range because no distinct typical value was published)
Borneol	0.64%	0.64–0.64%	bicyclic monoterpene alcohol	View source Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS) https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq (lot 13170, borneol 0.64%; report specification 0.7-1.7%, lot value falls slightly below the specification band)
1,8-Cineole	2%	—	monoterpene oxide	View source Z.officinale high-zingiberene(Japanese) CT: Koch et al. Int J Mol Sci 2017;18(2):452 (PMC5343986), a-zingiberene 37.87% (=record 37.89), reports g-terpinene 5.12%,myrcene 0.35%; 1,8-cineole(~2-11%, monoterpene-rich Z.off lit) & b-phellandrene(9.8-14.1% Uttarakhand, ResearchGate) documented ginger monoterpenes absent from record
beta-Phellandrene	2%	—	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Z.officinale high-zingiberene(Japanese) CT: Koch et al. Int J Mol Sci 2017;18(2):452 (PMC5343986), a-zingiberene 37.87% (=record 37.89), reports g-terpinene 5.12%,myrcene 0.35%; 1,8-cineole(~2-11%, monoterpene-rich Z.off lit) & b-phellandrene(9.8-14.1% Uttarakhand, ResearchGate) documented ginger monoterpenes absent from record
gamma-Terpinene	1.5%	—	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Z.officinale high-zingiberene(Japanese) CT: Koch et al. Int J Mol Sci 2017;18(2):452 (PMC5343986), a-zingiberene 37.87% (=record 37.89), reports g-terpinene 5.12%,myrcene 0.35%; 1,8-cineole(~2-11%, monoterpene-rich Z.off lit) & b-phellandrene(9.8-14.1% Uttarakhand, ResearchGate) documented ginger monoterpenes absent from record

Profile source: ISO 16928:2014 Essential oil of ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe]; Ginger Root Oil 98401-27 Chemical Composition (GC-MS); AromaWeb Ginger Essential Oil profile · https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/57978/26ce984e0a7e432fa0933dba1bb67311/ISO-16928-2014.pdf ; https://shayandcompany.com/product/ginger-root-essential-oil/?attachment_id=89160&download_file=m72elvb5rigmq ; https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/es1101231.html ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/ginger-essential-oil.php

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 a warming, grounding effect
reported to support digestive comfort, especially before travel, in folk aromatherapy use
used in massage blends for a warming sensation and muscle comfort
traditionally associated with a sense of energy and motivation
used in perfumery and culinary fragrancing for its warm, spicy, woody-fresh note

Explore related intentionsStress Relief ↗

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 · 5 data gaps

Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.

No distinct published typical value was found for geranial, neral, geraniol, or beta-elemene; the stored `pct_typical` values are midpoints of the cited ISO 16928 ranges (geraniol and beta-elemene use the West Africa range, the widest of the three origins, in the absence of a distinct typical value).
The stored `max_dermal_pct` 60 comes from a public IFRA certificate's Class 4A leave-on body-product limit rather than a product-specific Tisserand & Young ginger monograph. A readable primary Tisserand & Young ginger profile would still be the cleaner archive source type if one becomes publicly available.
No public source reviewed in this pass published a native 0-100 odor-intensity value; the archive's 60 is a normalization of The Good Scents Company's categorical 'medium' odor-strength label.
Public ginger references reviewed in this pass did not provide a directly stated volatility-rate metric.
Closure remains below the 0.90 target (0.8846) after this pass. The lot 13170 GC-MS sheet and ISO 16928 table (both already cited) were fully mined for named, quantified peaks; borneol, geraniol, and beta-elemene were the only remaining constituents either source reports by name. Additional peer-reviewed ginger EO GC-MS papers located via search (e.g. PMC9639606, Zimbabwe/Malaysia/Japan cultivar studies) report substantially different terpene profiles (different camphene/limonene/borneol/citral ranges, presence of 1,8-cineole and beta-phellandrene not seen in the ISO/lot-13170 data) and were not merged in because splicing percentages from a materially different cultivar/origin risks fabricating a non-representative composition; PMC9639606 itself could not be fetched in this pass (blocked by a reCAPTCHA challenge page). A future pass with browser-based fetch access to a single coherent origin-matched GC-MS source (e.g. a full China or India ISO-conformant lab report) is needed to close the remaining ~11.5 percentage points.