Magickal Ginger

We have been covering a lot of ingredients lately that you might think are just regular old everyday ingredients. Do not be fooled by the simplicity and availability of such incredible ingredients that Mother Earth offers us.

We are talking about Ginger because it is impressive in more ways than one. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is one of the most used dietary condiments in the world. There have been many studies done on the bioactive compounds of ginger, and there is quite a lot of support for its anti-inflammatory effects.

Unfortunately, when something has been used for thousands of years, it is considered anecdotal unless it is scientifically proven to have a medicinal effect. If you read some articles, there is a lack of support for its safe and effective use, but some other herbalists and traditional medicinal therapists rave about its effectiveness and not only that; most people who talk about ginger believe in its effectiveness have it in some form. On a positive note, some great studies support ginger and its beneficial effects.

We use Ginger in many products, including our Perfume with Purpose, Parfums & Ultra Soothe Repair Cream, to name a few.

Ginger has been used in tribal and complementary medicine for over 5,000 years. It has been extensively used in Indian and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ginger is talked about a lot with travel sickness and nausea. Many people have a pack of ginger tea in their cupboards to help with nausea or an upset stomach. Ginger is used in cooking, perfumes and a whole array of concoctions for herbal and aromatherapeutic uses

It comes in essential oil, dried powder, dried chunks, teas, paste and the fresh root. Ginger is very popular in curry dishes, used in Asian cuisine and in Japanese cuisine, it is pickled and used in between sushi servings, acting as a palate cleanser.

We use Zingiber officinale in our Ultra soother cream. Why? Well, we think that it adds some depth to the synergistic blend of the cream. We are keen to use ingredients from nature that have an anti-inflammatory function. We use it in perfume because it adds depth which creates warmth, and spiciness adds to the complexity of a blend. It can be considered for use as a headlining top note or heart, acting like a linking note. It adds a particular touch of upliftment and magick to a perfume, well, at least we think so.

Ginger is superb in masculine and feminine scents because it is warm, and spicy, and adds a touch of citrus. It is seen as a rising note that lasts until the foundational base notes kick in, but in some cases, the ginger can last quite a long time. It blends well with citrus, various spices, and florals like jasmine, jonquil carnation and lily.

We have found it beautiful in our L’Maur perfume, made for Maryka’s mum. Typically, it was meant to be a feminine scent, but it has become a more male favourite. Other notes that make L’Maur unique are saffron, rose, incense, tonka bean, patchouli and amber. It is a true masterpiece.

If you are interested in reading more about L’Maur check out our journal on the L’Scents story.

If you are interested in the bioactive compounds and want to learn more, check out this article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814613001349

Until our next feature, stay well and safe and remember, “Life is Chemistry.”