This sweet-smelling oil from the rose geranium flower has been used for centuries in both perfumery and skin care, and has documented antibacterial,[1] [2] antioxidant,[3] [4] and antifungal[5] [6]activities. We’ve read that geranium oil has astringent properties and it can help fight wrinkles and improve muscle tone, and that it improves circulation right below the surface of the skin, which can help improve healing in wounds like acne scars; however, we haven’t seen any scientific data to back this up. There are a number of studies, however, that point to potential anti-cancer effects of geranium.[7] [8] [9]Its key chemical compounds are citronellol (24.54%), geraniol (15.33%), citronellyl formate (10.66%) and linalool (9.80%).

Find it in:

Mellow Gold

Pacific Scrub

Flower Child

[1] Sienkiewicz, M., Głowacka, A., Kowalczyk, E., Wiktorowska-Owczarek, A., Jóźwiak-Bębenista, M., & Łysakowska, M. (2014). The Biological Activities of Cinnamon, Geranium and Lavender Essential Oils. Molecules, 19(12), 20929-20940. doi:10.3390/molecules191220929

[2] Singh, Priyanka, et al. "Assessment of Pelargonium graveolens oil as plant‐based antimicrobial and aflatoxin suppressor in food preservation." Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 88.14 (2008): 2421-2425.

[3] Fayed, Sayed A. "Antioxidant and anticancer activities of Citrus reticulate (Petitgrain Mandarin) and Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) essential oils." Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences 5.5 (2009): 740-747.

[4] Ćavar, Sanja, and Milka Maksimović. "Antioxidant activity of essential oil and aqueous extract of Pelargonium graveolens L’Her." Food Control 23.1 (2012): 263-267.

[5] Naeini, A. R., M. Nazeri, and H. Shokri. "Antifungal activity of Zataria multiflora, Pelargonium graveolens and Cuminum cyminum essential oils towards three species of Malassezia isolated from patients with pityriasis versicolor." Journal de Mycologie Médicale/Journal of Medical Mycology 21.2 (2011): 87-91.

[6] Bouzenna, Hafsia, and Lamia Krichen. "Pelargonium graveolens L’Her. and Artemisia arborescens L. essential oils: chemical composition, antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani and insecticidal activity against Rhysopertha dominica." Natural product research 27.9 (2013): 841-846.

[7] Collu, Graziella, et al. "Geraniol 10‐hydroxylase1, a cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis." FEBS letters 508.2 (2001): 215-220.

[8] Wang, Yanmao, et al. "Geraniin inhibits migration and invasion of human osteosarcoma cancer cells through regulation of PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways." Anti-Cancer Drugs (2017).

[9] Carnesecchi, S., et al. "Geraniol, a component of plant essential oils, inhibits growth and polyamine biosynthesis in human colon cancer cells." Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 298.1 (2001): 197-200.