The fragrance of ginger is distinctly fresh and spicy, offering a sparkling top note to complex accords. Used across both men’s and women’s scents, ginger is an unmistakably zesty note that evokes a sort of olfactory duality: bitingly light and lemony, yet deeply pungent and peppery.
A flowering plant with fleshy rhizomes grown in China, Japan, Laos, Jamaica, Africa, and—especially—Madagascar. The herbaceous plant grows to about one meter in height, flaunting long, narrow leaf blades. The ginger roots are cleaned, peeled, and sometimes dried before being steam distilled.
The spicy fragrance of ginger has wafted through our kitchens since Antiquity, with tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia having enjoyed the delightfully zesty spice since the beginning of recorded human history. Ginger eventually made its way to Europe in the 1st century, when the ancient Romans discovered it while trading with India. However, it was soon forgotten after the collapse of the Roman Empire and only rediscovered by its European audience when Marco Polo brought it back from his travels eastward. During the Middle Ages, ginger was heralded for its supposed magical abilities and aphrodisiac qualities. Thought to ward off plague, the spice became so popular that it found its new home at the dinner table alongside salt and pepper.
People's Republic of China, Jamaica, Japan, Madagascar
The best time to harvest ginger is when the top of the roots start to turn a delightfully pink color, and when the leaves are getting dry—this is the sign that all the precious essence is in the plant’s roots. Ginger is well known for its medicinal qualities. For centuries, we have reveled at its ability to improve digestion, ease motion sickness and nausea, as well as prevent vomiting during pregnancy. Its antioxidant properties help prevent cardiovascular disease and even some cancers.
In 2003, Roger & Gallet was one of the first brands to bet on ginger as a key ingredient in one of its fragrances. The promise: "At its heart, an extract of ginger mixed with precious essences of eucalyptus and benzoin gum, infused with the vibrant freshness of orange. Inspired by a trip to India."
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