Geranium oil

Geranium oil is steam distilled from the leaves and branches of Pelargonium graveolens and other species of Pelargonium.

The term rose geranium implies either a particular cultivar or sometimes the fact that rose petals were distributed on top of the geranium leaves during the distillation.

Around 200 tons of geranium oils are produced annually in China and Egypt. The flowers yield 0.1% oil by steam distillation or 0.2% of concrete by extraction with hexane. The concrete yields 65% absolute.

The major components of the oil are typically:
32% citronellol (fresh, floral, rose)
12% geraiol (sweet, floral, rose)
6% iso-menthone (harsh, herbal, mint)

Geranium oil may be used as an inexpensive alternative to rose oil in Turkish Delight confectionary, but the mint note is intrusive at higher levels of use.

Rose geranium oil is extensively used in most major food products, including alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods and gelatins and puddings.

Oil of geranium ranks high among the essential oil used for perfuming toilets soaps.
Geranium oil