Materia Aromatica
The Geranium Library
Distinct oils under one name. Geranium read by species and type.
See the oils ↓The geranium library holds two genera under one common name. Three of its oils are pelargoniums, plants of southern Africa first classed within Geranium and later separated. The fourth, zdravets, is a true Geranium. The common name says little about the aroma in the bottle.
01 · The Genus
Two genera, one family
Pelargonium and Geranium both belong to the Geraniaceae. Pelargonium is the source of commercial geranium oil, and within it the rose-scented forms dominate. Pelargonium graveolens and Pelargonium asperum are led by citronellol and geraniol, the alcohols they share with rose.
Pelargonium tomentosum, the peppermint geranium, takes a separate route, to menthone and isomenthone. Geranium macrorrhizum, a low perennial of the Balkan mountains, produces an oil led by germacrone, a sesquiterpene ketone. The range divides three ways by chemistry, and only one of the three smells of rose.
Pelargonium · Alcohols
Rose-scented
Madagascar and Egypt. Citronellol and geraniol, with linalool or formate esters.
Pelargonium · Ketones
Peppermint geranium
South Africa. Menthone and isomenthone; minty and leafy.
Geranium · Sesquiterpene ketone
Zdravets
Bulgaria, from wild plants. Germacrone-led; dry, herbaceous and woody.
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Side by side
4 oils at a glance
| Oil | Botanical name | Origin | Cultivation | Main constituents | From | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geranium, Rose (organic) | Pelargonium graveolens | Madagascar | Certified organic | Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalol | $14.25 | In stock |
| Geranium (organic) | Pelargonium asperum | Egypt | Certified organic | Citronellol, Geraniol, Citronellyl formiate, Geranyl form... | $12.75 | In stock |
| Geranium, Peppermint / Geranium tomentosum (Organic) | Pelargonium tomentosum | South Africa | Wild-crafted organic | Isomenthone, Menthone | $21.75 | In stock |
| Geranium, True (Geranium, Zdravets) | Geranium macrorrhizum | Bulgaria | Wild | Germacrone, Azulene, Terpinene | $40.50 | In stock |
Scroll sideways for all columns →
02 · The Range
Four oils, two genera
03 · Side by Side
Three comparisons
Origin within the rose-scented group. Geranium, Rose from Madagascar and Geranium (organic) from Egypt share their leading alcohols. Linalool stands behind them in the Madagascan oil; citronellyl and geranyl formate in the Egyptian. The formates bring a greener, slightly minty lift. The ratio of citronellol to geraniol, set largely by growing region, moves the balance between rosy and fresh.
One genus, two chemistries. Geranium, Rose beside Geranium, Peppermint shows how far Pelargonium ranges. The first is built on alcohols, the second on ketones. On the blotter a shared leafiness is the only common ground.
Across the genera. Geranium (organic) beside Geranium, True (Zdravets) is the comparison the common name conceals. Rosy alcohols stand on one side, a dry, slow-evaporating sesquiterpene profile on the other. Zdravets reads as an herbal-woody material, closer in use to a base note than to a floral heart.
04 · In Practice
From heart note to base
The rose-scented pelargoniums are middle notes. In natural perfumery they bridge citrus tops and woody bases and extend rose accords. Skincare formulation, massage blends and diffusion all suit them, with lavender, bergamot, clary sage, sandalwood and patchouli as partners.
Peppermint geranium is a top note for diffusion, massage blends and green-mint accords, beside rosemary, eucalyptus and lemon. Zdravets is a middle-to-base material for herbal and chypre structures, and suits massage blends, olfactory study and meditation practice. Its slow evaporation lets a small proportion carry into the dry-down. All four are diluted before application to skin.
For olfactory study the library works best as a sequence: Madagascan rose geranium, then the Egyptian oil, then peppermint geranium, then zdravets. The order runs from the two rose-scented pelargoniums, through the mint type, to the true geranium. Each step changes either genus, species or growing region, which makes the source of each difference legible on the blotter.
Essential oils are for aromatic and topical use. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep out of reach of children.