Ginger Absolute

#### Ginger Absolute. **Ginger Absolute **is produced by extraction of the ginger rhizome (see Ginger Oil) with hydrocarbon solvents. After evaporation of the solvent, the residual extract is extracted with alcohol. After chilling and filtration of the alcohol extract, this extract is evaporated under gentle vacuum until the alcohol is removed. The residue is **Ginger Absolute**. However, since the absolute is not a commercially available item, it is customary for the interested party that he produce his own absolute. As a starting material, the commercially available Ginger Oleoresin (see monograph) is frequently used, unless the user of ginger absolute does not prefer to start all the way from ginger rhizomes, specifically selected for this purpose. **Butaflor**** ****Ginger**** **is a specially prepared extract of ginger (see **Ginger**** ****Oleoresin**). According to the method of production and partly to the type of ginger rhizomes used, the ginger absolute may vary considerably in appearance and flavor. Usually, it is a viscous orange-brown or dark, yellow-brown liquid, just pourable at room temperature. Its odor is best described as being a very true reproduction of that of ginger rhizome, concentrated many times. The sweetness is emphasized, the rich, warm spiciness is predominant, and the tenacity is only modest. The typical lemon-orange-like topnotes (particularly well known from the Cochin and the Jamaica gingers) are accentuated by the fresh, slightly camphoraceous-warm and later sweet-woody body-notes of this absolute. The flavor is equally warm, but also pungent spicy, truly representative of the candied rhizome ("Chinese stem ginger"). **Ginger**** ****Absolute**** **is used by certain flavor houses in compositions where alcohol-solubility is of paramount importance, and a true-to-nature flavor must be maintained. The absolute thus represents the aroma *and *the pungency of ginger, and it replaces the old ginger tincture in flavor work. The application of ginger absolute is similar to that of ginger oleoresin (see **Ginger**** ****Oleoresin). **In perfumes, **Ginger Absolute **may introduce the most interesting and surprising notes in high-class lotion perfumes, etc., or in the so-called "men's fragrances" in the spicy series, after-shaves, etc. It blends excellently with animal notes (castoreum, civet, costus, labdanum) and with woody notes (sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, linalool, olibanum, etc.), with floral notes (very interesting effect in gardenia, etc.) and in many types of modern fantasy fragrances.