Aromas of Roots and Self-Confidence

Roots & Rhizomes are Nurturing

Aromas of Roots are known to be “earthy”. I think that earthy smells like water + plus soil or biomatter. Such an aroma can be positive or not, according to your reaction to their scents. Actually, the earthy notes in a root or rhizome are a collection of notes or scents. Additional notes are herbaceous, or herb-like, sweet, woody, spicy, smooth, warm, green, balsamic, as well as strong, musty, cineolic, camphoraceous, ginger, cinnamon, and clove, depending on the oil you choose.

Scents from roots and rhizomes are a superlative array of notes. More than that, the aromatics of these plant parts offer us physical and emotional relief and comfort.

Roots of a tree, shrub, flowering herb, even of a grass, are those parts of the plant that ensure the plant will thrive. They support the plant as it grows from seed out of the soil, and secure its requirements for sustenance and water. Next to roots, typical below-ground parts are the stems, called rhizomes, which act as storehouses. As roots find a way to source the substances for the plant to flourish, rhizomes stow the substances for the plant’s use as it matures.

Angelica root, Valerian and Spikenard, and Vetiver

Galangal, Ginger and Turmeric

are the best known roots and rhizomes in essential oils. Click on the bold flower name (i.e., Ginger) to read its profile.

Plant Parts: the Root of the Matter

“Plant parts”, is another term for the anatomy or morphology of a plant. A chosen plant part is seen as a source of remedy in aromatherapy. An aspect of this harkens back to the idea that a plant looks like, or appears like a human body part, and thus the plant would have a reputation for healing that part of the human body.

Plant morphology concentrates on specific therapeutics provided by plant parts. Roots and rhizomes of aromatic plants.

Roots and rhizomes of aromatic plants:

Roots are those parts of the plant that do the basic work of nurturing by securing or anchoring and water. Rhizomes are found only on a few plants. These below ground stems are thicker than roots and provide aromatics, medicines, and food that humans like. Aromatic roots are likely to have a rather earthy scent, whereas aromatic rhizomes will have an earthy component, but also a range of spicy aromas.

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Family: Zingiberaceae, the Ginger family of perennial culinary plants. Ginger root is technically a rhizome, a fleshy underground stem.

Origin and Biological status: Southeast Asia. Now grown in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, West Africa, the West Indies, China.

Part distilled is the rhizome or underground stem of the Ginger plant, Zingiber officinale.

Adulteration: is easily adulterated by the addition of synthetics to stretch the yield, although synthetics have no therapeutic benefits.

Season: Harvested year-round, the essential oil is distilled in late Winter.

Energetics: the essential oil is dispersing and warming. It offers both emotional and physical benefits when its scent is intentionally inhaled

Ginger in Rituals: possibly the first ritual for the plant we know as Ginger occurred before recorded history when two plants were crossed in an early attempt by farmers of South Asia. The plant is not found in the wild, but is the result of human intervention with nature. Ginger, as food and medicine has been wildly popular ever since.

Ginger in medicines: as a harmonizer in Chinese medicinal formulas, to improve circulation, for digestive complaints, nausea, etc.

Ginger in Perfumes: in perfume formulations, the Ginger aromas support complex layers and harmonize blends in the West for masculine perfumes .

Unusual characteristics: Ginger rhizomes are steam distilled to yield an essential oil, a hydrosol. Ginger rhizomes can also be extracted with carbon dioxide to yield a CO2 oil that may smell more exactly like the fresh Ginger than its essential oil.

Olfactive features: slightly intense with medium-to-good tenacity, Ginger scent is warming with a spicy aroma that is stimulating, pain-relieving, lessens spasms and nausea, and increases immunity because it has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial actions.

Aromatic characteristics: Ginger essential oil smells lemony-sweet and slightly spicy, but Ginger CO2 smell is closer to the fresh Gingerroot (Zingiber officinale) due to the capture of two components, gingerol and shagoal responsible for the fresh ginger aroma.

Botanical and other illustrations from wikipedia.

REFERENCES for this page include:

Arctander, Stephan. Perfumes and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin. Published 1960 in Elizabeth, NJ.

Holmes, Peter. Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol 2. Published by Singing Dragon Press, London and Philadelphia, 2019.

Rhind, Jennifer. Fragrance and Wellbeing: Plant Aromatics and Their Influence on the Psyche. Published by Singing Dragon Press, London and Philadelphia, 2014.

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