Zingiberaceae

[ResolvableOwl]

Can't decide for no more than two (but no less than one) of these:

• galangal (Alpinia glanga) EO or CO₂ extract
• ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizom EO
• ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizom CO₂ extract
• turmeric (Curcuma longa) EO
• ETA: ginger lily (Hedychium spicatum) EO
• ETA: ginger (Zingiber officinale) greens EO

Opinions?

I'm a huge fan of ginger in the kitchen (all the way down to chewing it pure). Turmeric too (I just hate cleaning the tools afterwards). I know galangal only as powder, but like it as well. Rumor is that EOs steam-distilled from these rhizoms aren't very faithful to the original aroma. Is this true? Does ginger EO have the resinous sweet frankincense-like scent of cooked ginger, or rather the straight, burning spicy-hot character of raw ginger?

 

[fredntan]

I'm a newbie here.....

But would infusing say ginger in oil first....the ginger would need to be dried before infusing in ginger....but infusing dried ginger, or turmeric in the oil first? Would the smell survive the soapafication process.

Oils with dried herbs and such usually have to sit in a dark cabinet for months....but it can be speed up by putting it in instapot on yogurt setting...(in a Mason jar with a warm water bath)

 

[ResolvableOwl]

Haha, thanks for your ideas. Yes, if I aimed for infused (fatty) oil, I'd go for dried rhizom (probably slicing and drying it), or powder. Turmeric powder is a quite popular soap addition, but mainly for the colour or peeling effect, less so for the scent. You're right, scent retention from infused oils is doubtful for all but a few botanicals.

BUT my question isn't about DIY, but rather about which essential oils/CO₂ extracts to purchase, from a company that is specialised on the separation of odorous substances from plants.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

LOL! When I read the title, "Zingiberaceae" I thought you found something growing in your petri dish and decided to name it after @Zing!

That being said, I'm on the search for a ginger EO as well. I'm going for a "pretty" ginger like Ginger Lily FO. I've never purchased the EO, but the flower is my all-time favorite. If the EO is true to the flower, I'll be in 7th Heaven.

Ginger EO, zingiber officinalis
Ginger Lily EO
Galangal co2 Kaempferia galanga aka Ginger Lily co2

 

[Zing]

Um, people? We need to talk about licensing and royalties.... Ahem!

 

[maryloucb]

I make an orange ginger turmeric soap with ginger EO, and I find the scent to be the more mellow cooked scent than the zingy (ahem) raw scent. It is pretty mild and subtle.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

orange ginger turmeric

Would that be "orange" as in "color"? Or Orange EO fragrance? The reason I ask is because for a soap I made years ago, orange EO plus ginger FO was lovely together. I've used paprika powder + turmeric powder together to create a pretty speckled rosy orange-colored soap. The scent did not survive saponification.

 

[maryloucb]

Would that be "orange" as in "color"? Or Orange EO fragrance? The reason I ask is because for a soap I made years ago, orange EO plus ginger FO was lovely together. I've used paprika powder + turmeric powder together to create a pretty speckled rosy orange-colored soap. The scent did not survive saponification.

Orange essential oil. I use the turmeric for the orange color. I also use a little litsea essential oil. It's lovely, but definitely subtle.

 

[ResolvableOwl]

That being said, I'm on the search for a ginger EO as well. I'm going for a "pretty" ginger like Ginger Lily FO. I've never purchased the EO, but the flower is my all-time favorite. If the EO is true to the flower, I'll be in 7th Heaven.

Oh gawd … there MUST be someone out there who distills EO from ginger greens! (@Catscankim ???) You just reminded me of my humble attempts to grow ginger, the leaves smell heavenly, just like the root tastes, but a bit more grassy and citrusy, and less sharp and hot. Makes a terrific tea!
Never heard of ginger lily, but it sounds worth a try in any case! I added it to the above list .

orange EO plus ginger FO was lovely together.

Too bad it didn't make it into the soap. Ginger + citrus is a really marvellous combo!

 

[Basil]

I have ginger EO (zingerber officinale) made by Camden Grey. I believe it was @cmzaha who likes Camden EOs which is why I ordered it from there. It smells just like the description.i plan on using it with orange EO as well, but I haven’t tried it yet. I have used some others by them and they’ve been great.
Now I want to try it today, but focus focus Basil , you have labels to make

 

[Basil]

Oh gawd … there MUST be someone out there who distills EO from ginger greens! (@Catscankim ???) You just reminded me of my humble attempts to grow ginger, the leaves smell heavenly, just like the root tastes, but a bit more grassy and citrusy, and less sharp and hot. Makes a terrific tea!
Never heard of ginger lily, but it sounds worth a try in any case! I added it to the above list .



Too bad it didn't make it into the soap. Ginger + citrus is a really marvellous combo!

My mother-in-law got me hooked on ginger marmalade!

 

[soapmaker]

The scent did not survive saponification.

I make an orange cinnamon soap, it does survive the lye, it is mild and wonderful but does not sell as fast as others which contributes to an even milder smell. I just sold the last of what I made a year ago and it still smelled nice.

 

[ResolvableOwl]

there MUST be someone out there who distills EO from ginger greens!

Just found that eocalc.com does indeed list an EO called “gingergrass” – but this is Cymbopogon martinii, a different thing than ginger greens, and arguably a much closer relative to palmarosa and lemongrass than to ginger proper.

 

[Basil]

Just found that eocalc.com does indeed list an EO called “gingergrass” – but this is Cymbopogon martinii, a different thing than ginger greens, and arguably a much closer relative to palmarosa and lemongrass than to ginger proper.

@Zany_in_CO and owl, I have peace that I’m not the only one who replies to myself

 

[violets2217]

Not to change the subject, because I have a lemongrass Ginger FO that I love and would only hope that the EO fragrance would survive if I were to use it, but wouldn’t Ginger be a spicy/tingly EO for body use? I’m curious…
The Ginger Lily sounds glorious!

 

[Zany_in_CO]

wouldn’t Ginger be a spicy/tingly EO for body use?

Yes. It is known to be "warming". Click on the link in Post #4.

it's heating action relieves pain from arthritis, sore muscles, menstrual cramps, and headache.

 

[ResolvableOwl]

Yesterday I ordered some ginger EO (steam-distilled). One has to start somewhere.
Curious how “warming” it is, and if I can concur with @maryloucb's judgment.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

Yesterday, I added Orange Ginger Marmalade to my grocery list.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I haven’t tried orange ginger marmalade, but this ginger marmalade makes me very happy.

 

[Basil]

I get my ginger marmalade from world market. It’s in the refrigerator now! So, to tie this together with this thread, maybe I should put 1tsp? or 1 Tbs? PPO??