Geranium, True (Geranium, Zdravets)

Geranium oil in commerce is almost always distilled from Pelargonium, a South African genus with a rosy, citronellol-rich profile. Zdravets is a true geranium. Geranium macrorrhizum belongs to a different genus, smells entirely different and has no rose character at all.

01 · Origin

A low, spreading perennial of the Balkan mountains and the southern Alps, family Geraniaceae. In Bulgaria it has a long place in household and seasonal custom. This oil is distilled from the leaves of wild plants gathered in Bulgaria, by traditional methods.

02 · Chemistry

Germacrone, a sesquiterpene ketone, dominates. It is the marker of the species and is uncommon as a major constituent elsewhere. Azulene and terpinene follow. The weight of the sesquiterpene fraction gives the oil its depth and its slow evaporation.

03 · In Practice

Dry, herbaceous and woody, with a green, slightly bitter warmth and a faint floral trace far in the background. A middle-to-base note for natural perfumers working in herbal and chypre directions. Massage blends, olfactory study and meditation practice. Blends with lavender, clary sage, cedarwood, vetiver, frankincense, bergamot and rose.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.