Geranium

Common Name: Geranium

Botanical Name: Pelargonium graveolens

Origin: Africa, Reunion Island

Appearance: Pale yellow to olive green

Aroma: Green, rosy, minty

Geranium oil or Pelargonium graveolens contains geraniol as does rose oil. Use geranium essential oil or rose geranium as a natural perfume diluted with jojoba oil. Dilute with water for a natural spray mister. Try Geranium oil mixed with lavender oil, rosehip seed oil, carrot seed oil, and bergamot oil as a mild astringent and to moisturize.

Pelargonium graveolens is a rose-scented geranium belonging to the same genus as the popular red-flowered geranium. Due to semi-succulent, water-conserving stems and leaves, geraniums, indigenous to arid South Africa's Cape Province, are highly drought resistant.

The constituents - geraniol, linalol and citronellol are present in the essential oil from rose geranium leaves as well as in rose oil. Geranium's aroma is similar to that of rose, but with a musty, minty-green undertone.

Geranium oil works well as a natural perfume by itself. It is often used to scent soaps and detergents since rose geranium's aroma is not easily affected by soap alkalinity.

Rose geranium varies significantly among strains and distillations, partly due to differences in climate and soil conditions. Geranium oil can range from very sweet and rosy to musty, minty, and green. One type is Bourbon with a very rich, rosy aroma, known for its use as premium perfume oil. Bourbon geranium is cultivated and distilled only on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Bourbon oil blends well with very different oils including clove, sandalwood, and lavender.

The major geranium oil-producing areas of the world are in African, Russia, China, and Reunion. Russian and Chinese oils tend to have a greener, fresh-rosy aroma while Egyptian and Reunion oils tend to be heavier and darker. Most geranium essential oil is found in its leaves. The plants are cut and partially dried to decrease the amount of water to be vaporized and extracted during the distillation.

Geranium promotes stability and balance and is one of the best skincare oils, offering relief from congested, oily, and dry skin. Geranium skin preparations are gently astringent, opening pores, and clearing oily complexions. A toning cream containing geranium oil nourishes, moisturizes, and removes make-up. Try this toning cream recipe:

* 3 ounces jojoba oil
* 1 ounce rosehip seed oil
* 3 ounces distilled water
* 1/2 ounce beeswax
* 15 drops geranium oil
* 10 drops carrot seed oil
* 10 drops lavender oil

Heat the wax, jojoba, and rosehip seed oils in a double boiler until the wax melts. Add the water gradually while whisking the mixture into a creamy emulsion. Continue whisking until the cream cools, incorporate the essential oils, and store in a tightly closed container.

The emotional balancing effect geranium oil has is comparable to floral oils such as rose and lavender. The pleasant floral aromas can be uplifting and gently inspiring or promote calm and tranquility. Try this balancing aromatherapy blend:

* 35 drops geranium oil
* 35 drops lavender oil
* 20 drops bergamot oil
* 10 drops rose oil

Put six drops of the blend and one ounce of water into an aromatherapy lamp and gently diffuse the relaxing aroma during times of stress. For a more immediate release of this tranquil blend, try dispensing it from a spray mister.

To learn more about aromatherapy, click Learn and view topics under Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, & Lavender. See items under Aromatherapy Oil Information & Recipes to learn more about individual essential oils and the plants from which they come with more aromatherapy recipes included.