Geranium Oil (Egyptian)

Natural Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Origin — Egypt; also cultivated in China and Réunion

• 🔎 Botanical Name — Pelargonium graveolens

• 🧪 Synonyms — Egyptian Geranium Oil, Rose Geranium Oil

• 🧬 Chemical Formula — Complex natural mixture (major: geraniol, citronellol, rose oxide)

• 📂 CAS N° — Not specified (varies by batch; often 8000-46-2 for generic Pelargonium oil)

• 📘 FEMA — Not applicable for this variant

• ⚖️ MW — Not applicable (natural mixture)

• 📝 Odor type — Floral / Rosy

• 📈 Odor Strength — Medium

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Fresh, fruity, rosy-floral (geraniol & citronellol), minty (menthone + iso menthone), citronella-like, lychee-fruity, sparkling, lightly peppery

• ⚗️ Uses — Fine perfumery only; suitable for floral, chypre, and fougère bases

• 🧴 Appearance — Yellow to light-yellow liquid

• 💧 Extraction Method — Steam distillation of sun-dried leaves

• 🌿 Yield — Approx. 0.1–0.2% of plant material

What is Geranium Oil Egyptian?

Geranium Oil Egyptian is a natural essential oil obtained from Pelargonium graveolens, widely cultivated in Egypt, with secondary production in China and Réunion Island. Unlike synthetically reconstructed rose materials, this oil offers a complex, dynamic profile due to its high content of natural terpenic alcohols and ketones.

Steam distillation of dried leaves yields an oil rich in:

• Geraniol and Citronellol – main rosy-floral components

• Rose Oxide – adds brightness and lift

• Menthone / Iso Menthone – minty and green nuances

• Minor notes: citronella, lychee, peppery sparkle

Historically used in perfumery since the 19th century, Geranium Oil Egyptian continues to be prized for its natural expression of the rose facet, and its versatility in both traditional and modern floral architecture.

Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications

This oil delivers a refined, floral-rosy aroma with additional:

• Minty-freshness (from menthone)

• Fruity lychee notes

• Citronella-like crispness

• Subtle peppery accents

Ideal placement:

• Middle note of the fragrance pyramid

• Often layered with:

  • Rose (damascenone, geraniol, rose oxide)

  • Ylang-ylang (adds volume and sweetness)

  • Oakmoss (in chypres)

  • Lavender or Clary Sage (in fougères)

Synergies & Technical Considerations

• Blends especially well with Citronellol, Rose Oxide, and Linalool for elegant floral accords

• In modern natural perfumery, it is used as a cost-effective floral booster

• Its fresh character can lighten heavier floral or spicy compositions without overpowering them

Industrial and Technical Uses

While Geranium Oil Egyptian is almost exclusively reserved for fine perfumery, it is also valued in:

• Aromatherapy (mood-enhancing, energizing profiles)

• Historical apothecary and traditional medicine (minor antimicrobial use)

• Niche cosmetic fragrance blends

Not generally used in flavor applications due to minty and citronella-like side notes, and no FEMA GRAS status for food use.

Regulatory and Safety Overview

• IFRA: Regulated due to content of citronellol, geraniol, and menthone—common allergens. Follow category-specific usage limits

• EU Allergen Listing: Contains several declarable fragrance allergens (geraniol, citronellol, linalool)

• FEMA GRAS: Not listed for ingestion

• ECHA: Natural substance; individual components classified (geraniol: irritant/sensitizer)

• Toxicology: May cause skin sensitization in leave-on applications; requires labeling per EU regulation

• Stability: Good shelf stability if stored in cool, light-protected containers; oxidation may increase allergenicity

✅ Recommended for use within controlled concentrations, especially in skin-contact products.

Sources

• A Fragrant Introduction to Terpenoid Chemistry – Charles S. Sell

• Perfume and Flavor Materials – Kurt Bauer & Dorothea Garbe

• Semmler, F.W. – Die ätherischen Öle

• Fulvio Ciccolo – Scentspiracy Technical Archive

• TGSC Ingredient System – Geranium Oil Egyptian