The influence of essential ginger oil (Zingiberis aetheroleum from Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on blood pressure, heart rate and subjective well-being was investigated after inhalation and dermal application on healthy human subjects in two experiments. Additionally a GC-MS analysis of the tested oil is given. The essential oil exhibited a high amount of citral (19.4%). α-Zingiberene (17.4%), camphene (7.8%), trans, trans-a-farnesene (6.8%) and β-bisabolene (5.8%) were also prominent constituents. Compared with the control condition an activating effect was observed for ginger oil in the inhalation experiment.