Geranium Perfumes

A pelargonium from the Cape: where geranium comes from

Perfumery's geranium is botanically a pelargonium (Pelargonium graveolens) from South Africa. Pelargoniums reached Europe from the Cape of Good Hope from the 17th century onwards; in 1789 the botanist L’Héritier separated the pelargoniums from the cranesbill geraniums as a genus of their own – the name “geranium” stuck in everyday use. Today it is grown mainly in Egypt and China, and the “Bourbon” oil from the island of Réunion is considered particularly fine. The scent is carried not by the flowers but by the leaves and stems: the herb is cut and steam-distilled.

The main components of the oil are citronellol (C₁₀H₂₀O), citronellyl formate (C₁₁H₂₀O₂) and geraniol (C₁₀H₁₈O) – 12 to 30 %, 8 to 16 % and 2 to 15 % of the oil in analyses. Citronellol and geraniol also shape rose oil, which is why geranium smells like the rose's green sister.

In a fragrance, geranium brings a green, fresh rose – livelier and cooler than the flower itself, with a minty, lemony edge. In our range it sits in the heart of 80 of 101 fragrances. Especially in men's fragrances it gives lavender, patchouli and woods an elegant floral freshness.