CARDAMOM ESSENTIAL OIL
Cardamom Essential Oil
Spicy · Sweet · Warm
Elettaria cardamomum
Steam distilled from the whole fruit of cardamom grown in Sri Lanka, this beautifully aromatic essential oil captures the warmth and complexity of one of the world’s most treasured spices.
Cardamom opens fresh, bright and penetrating before revealing a sweeter heart of warm spice and soft woods. As it develops, the aroma becomes increasingly balsamic, smooth and subtly sweet, giving it remarkable depth for such a fresh spice oil.
Beautiful in the diffuser and particularly intriguing in botanical perfumery, Cardamom brings warmth, brightness and sophisticated spice to citrus, florals, woods and resins.
A botanical of spice, warmth and quiet complexity.
The aroma
Spicy · Sweet · Balsamic · Woody
Botanical Notes
Cardamom — Elettaria cardamomum
A member of the Zingiberaceae family, alongside ginger and turmeric, Cardamom is an aromatic perennial traditionally cultivated for its intensely fragrant fruit and seeds.
Steam distillation captures an aroma that is noticeably more complex than simply “spicy”. Initially fresh and slightly eucalyptus-like, it gradually becomes warmer, sweeter and more balsamic, finishing with a beautiful woody softness.
This evolution makes Cardamom particularly valuable in natural and botanical perfumery, where it can add spice without the heaviness of some warmer spice oils.
Botanical Profile
Botanical name: Elettaria cardamomum
Plant family: Zingiberaceae
Origin: Sri Lanka
Plant part: Whole fruit
Extraction: Steam distillation
Aroma family: Spicy
Perfume note: Middle
Aroma: Spicy-sweet, warm and highly aromatic with fresh, balsamic and woody nuances
Blends Beautifully With
Citrus: Bergamot · Mandarin · Orange · Lemon
Spice: Black Pepper · Cinnamon · Clove · Coriander · Ginger
Woods: Cedarwood · Sandalwood · Palo Santo · Agarwood
Resins: Frankincense · Benzoin · Labdanum · Cistus
Florals: Rose · Ylang Ylang
Herbs & Greens: Clary Sage · Juniper Berry · Pine
Cardamom is particularly beautiful with rose, where its warm spice adds complexity beneath the flower, and with citrus oils where its fresher facets become more pronounced.
The Ritual
Add a few drops to a diffuser to create a warm, aromatic atmosphere with a beautifully sophisticated spicy character.
For body or massage use, always dilute appropriately in a carrier oil before applying to the skin.
In botanical perfumery, use Cardamom as a middle note to connect brighter citrus top notes with deeper woods and resins.
Try Cardamom + Mandarin + Sandalwood for something softly spiced and enveloping, or Cardamom + Rose + Frankincense for a richer floral-resinous composition.
Ingredients
100% Pure Cardamom Essential Oil — Elettaria cardamomum
Steam distilled from the whole fruit.
Safety
For external use only. Do not ingest or apply undiluted to the skin. Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Keep out of reach of children.
Because Cardamom Essential Oil can contain significant 1,8-cineole, avoid applying it on or near the face of infants and young children.
Store away from heat and direct sunlight.
Information on the traditional uses and properties are provided on this site is for educational use only, and is not intended as medical advice. If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your health care practitioner before use.
Easy Recipe:
Bloated Belly Massage Oil
Using essential oils known to be antispasmodic, calming & warming can help indigestion.
Equipment:
50ml bottle and lid or dropper sterilised
Bowl
Spoon or stirrer
label
Ingredients:
30ml Sweet Almond Oil
2 drops Cardamom Essential Oil
3 drops Coriander Essential Oil
5 drops Mandarin Essential Oil
Method:
Combine all ingredients in to the bowl. Once blended transfer to sterilised bottle & seal, label.
Gently massage into chest then belly in circular motions from your right hip up to just under rib cage, across belly and down towards your left hip. Repeat. Leave oil on.
References:
1.
Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 127.
2.
Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 128.
3.
Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 232.