Pelargonium Graveolens Oil

Pelargonium graveolens oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves of the rose geranium, Pelargonium graveolens (not to be confused with the Geranium plant). The whole plant (stems, leaves, and flowers) and its essential oil are used for their rose-like scent as fragrant compounds.

Naturally, as with most fragrances, people who are sensitive to perfumes should be careful, as the Pelargonium graveolens oil may irritate their skin.

Pelargonium graveolens oil (often shortened to geranium oil) is used either on its own, or, sadly, is mixed into a pure rose oil to adulterate it, thereby producing larger volumes of a cheaper, fake "rose oil".

Rose oil and geranium oil mostly smell the same, but there are some subtle differences in scent and huge differences in chemical composition. The fake "rose oil", consisting mostly of geranium oil, will be of significantly lower quality.

Geranium oil consists mainly of citronellol, nerol, and geraniol and lacks the compounds which make the rose oil so unique. These differences might not be noticed by an untrained nose, but unfortunately, adulteration of essential oils is a widespread problem and methods have been developed to detect the chemical markers of it.