Geranium (Pelargonium spp.)

A Special Floral Essential Oil

Pelargoniums

Often, when people think of essential oils for everyday wellness, they think of lavender for relaxation or peppermint for focus. And when you think of floral essential oils, rose and lavender may be the first to come to mind. Geranium tends to be an overlooked essential oil that is versatile and reliable, offering a wide-reaching benefit for skin, mood, and overall well-being.

hardy geraniums

My grandmother used to grow scented geraniums all over her back porch. The fragrance was unmistakable whenever I stepped outside. Perhaps because of that, I dismissed geranium as a "grandma scent", relegated to drugstore perfume blends, but not something I considered useful for "real", practical applications. Perhaps I was wrong, as over time, I have come to appreciate both the plant and its essential oil. And now, it is far more than a nostalgic fragrance.

Fun tidbit, geranium essential oil does not come from hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) you might grow in your garden, nor is it distilled from geranium flowers. The essential oil actually comes from Pelargonium species, a different genus in the same plant family (Geraniaceae).

Even more surprising? The essential oil is distilled from the leaves of pelargoniums (aka scented geraniums).

Variety of Geraniums

The world of pelargonium is surprisingly complex. With over 260 documented species—most native to South Africa—only a handful are cultivated for essential oil production. These scented geraniums have been bred and cultivated across Europe, yet today’s primary producers are located in Egypt, India, Morocco, and Réunion Island.

The oils are typically derived from Pelargonium graveolens or its cultivars and hybrids, but depending on where it’s grown and how it’s processed, the scent profile can vary significantly.

Common types you can find on the market:

• Geranium Bourbon (Pelargonium graveolens) from Réunion Island is often considered the gold standard of gernium essential oils; it offers a soft, rich, floral scent with sweet undertones and an herbaceous hint, perfect for calming frayed nerves and relaxing at the end of a long day

• Egyptian Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) brings a more herbaceous, and sharply "green" as compared to Bourbon, making it useful for relaxation, easing tension, gently supporting hormonal balance, and supportive of mental clarity

• Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens cv. roseum or P. × asperum) lives up to its name with pronounced rosy notes; it makes a beautiful substitute for rose essential oil which can be rather cost prohibitive, offering similar emotional support and skin benefits at a fraction of the cost

Uses & Benefits of Geranium Essential Oil

What makes geranium special is its combination of gentle effectiveness across multiple body systems:

• Skin Care: Geranium, thanks to its constituents of citronellol, geraniol, and linalool, excels at reducing inflammation and supporting skin healing, especially when paired with frankincense; helping to nourish and tone the skin, balance oil production, and its antimicrobial properties promote a clear complexion for both dry and oily skin, as well as reducing scar tissue

  
  

• Mood & Stress Support: The uplifting, yet calming aroma of geranium can bring much needed relief during times of high stress and anxiety, including labor and delivery, especially when paired with lavender

  
  

• Lymph Support: When blended into a cream or lotion for topical use, may gently stimulate the lymphatic system and help reduce edema or fluid retention, such as swollen ankles; especially when blended with juniper berry and lemon essential oils in a soak or massage blend

  
  

• Hormone & Cortisol Balancing: Geranium, especially when paired with clary sage, is particularly helpful for hormonal balance, offering gentle support during monthly cycles and life transitions; inhalation of geranium appears to help regulate cortisol levels, which can be especially beneficial during stressful periods

  
  

• Aches & Pains: Geranium's anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties make it useful for muscle spasms, tension headaches, and general discomforts stemming from stress, pairing wonderfully with lavender and/or sweet marjoram

Geranium Blends Well With

Clary sage, lavender, bergamot, lemon, sweet orange, mandarin, cypress, patchouli, frankincense, ginger, sweet marjoram, peppermint, and rose

Simple Geranium Recipes

Aromatic Mood Support

• 3 drops sweet orange

• 2 drops geranium

• 2 drops lavender

Add to your diffuser per the manufacturer instructions and diffuse for 30 minutes as needed

Moisturizer (0.5% dilution)

• 2 oz unscented lotion or cream

• 3 drops geranium

• 3 drops frankincense

Mix essential oil drops into your lotion or cream, use as needed for skin care

Toner (0.5% dilution)

• 2 oz witch hazel or rose hydrosol

• 6 drops geranium

• spritz bottle

Mix essential oil drops into the hydrosol, shake well before use, spritz onto face after washing

Tension Tamer (1% dilution)

• 1 oz almond oil (or your favorite carrier oil)

• 3 drops geranium

• 3 drops sweet marjoram

Blend essential oil drops into the almond oil and massage into tense shoulders and neck, as needed for muscle tension related to stress and tension

Lymph Moving (1% dilution)

• 2 oz jojoba oil (optionally infused with calendula, violet, or lavender for added benefit)

• 3 drops lemon

• 2 drops geranium

• 1 drop juniper berry

Blend the essential oils into the carrier oil, be sure to shake well, and label. You can use this blend as a lymph massage oil, or add 1-2 tsp to bath water or foot soak

Balancing Inhaler

Try this simple blend for emotional steadiness

• 5 drops sweet orange or mandarin

• 3 drops lavender

• 3 drops geranium

• 2 drops clary sage

• blank aromatherapy inhaler

Ideal for on-the-go aromatherapy; use as needed to release stress throughout the day

Hormonal Support Roll-On (3% dilution)

In a 10 mL roller bottle, combine:

• 10 ml jojoba oil or borage or evening primrose oil

• 2 drops geranium

• 2 drops lavender

• 2 drops clary sage

Add drops of essential oil to the roller bottle, then add carrier oil of choice up to the shoulder, insert roller ball, top with cap, and shake well. Be sure to label. Use on wrists, behind ears, and upper chest to bring much needed calming balance, especially during times of hormonal fluctuations

General All-Purpose Cleaner

• 4 oz distilled water

• 4 oz white vinegar

• 2 tsp castile soap

• 10 drops lemon

• 5 drops geranium

• 5 drops tea tree

Add all ingredients into a spray bottle, shake well, and use as a degreaser, sanitizer and general cleaning spray in kitchens and bathrooms

Choosing Your Geranium

If you're new to geranium, I'd recommend starting with Geranium Bourbon. It offers the most balanced profile and works well for most applications. Those seeking something more grounding might prefer Egyptian, while anyone drawn to rose-like scents will love Rose Geranium. Quality matters, look for suppliers who provide the botanical (Latin) name, country of origin, and lab report (GC/MS), such as Aromatics Internation, Plant Therapy, or Eden's Garden.

Final Thoughts

Geranium essential oil may not get much attention, but that does not make it any less useful. It is steady, reliable, and supports the body in ways that are gentle and meaningful, especially for skin care, emotional stress, and daily discomforts. While trends come and go, time-tested plants like this remain useful tools that point to the wisdom and provision built into creation, even reminding us that grandma was wiser than we may have given her credit for. We do not need the latest fads to care for our health; we just need to use what God has already given us, wisely and with gratitude.