Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens) is a wonderful oil to have. It has many popular uses and benefits.
If I had to summarize it in one word, it would be “balancing”. Geranium is used for balancing the mind and sorting out emotions. It can help you relax and have that stress-free feeling after a long day. It also creates balance in oily and dry skin, can treat acne and bruises, and helps fight infections.
And if that wasn’t enough, this amazing oil can be a natural deodorant because of its very pleasant aroma!
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Geranium is one of my favorite essential oils. Can you tell? In this article, I’d like to introduce you to this wonderful essential oil and its many ways to use.
How Geranium Essential Oil is Made
Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens) comes from a perennial shrub that stands about 3 feet tall. The plant has pointed leaves and pinkish-white flowers. It is generally grown in South Africa, but also cultivated in select European countries such as France, Italy and Spain. The leaves are used in a steam distillation process to extract the essential oil.
Geranium Flowers
The first commercial distillation of geranium took place in France in the early 1700’s 1. Chemists had to first find the best plant varieties to cultivate for effective essential oil production. Only ten strands of geranium (from a choice of seven hundred different varieties), ended up as essential oils.
Normal garden geranium produces too little oil for extraction. You would need around 300-500 kg of plants to make 1 kg of the essential oil, which can be quite expensive.
13 Geranium Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
If you have Geranium essential oil in your collection (or are thinking about it!), let me tell you that Geranium oil has many beautiful uses.
- Infection Fighter: Geranium can help in protecting the body from infection. It has shown the ability to stop 22 different types of bacteria and 12 types of fungi fungi from growing on the skin ². For example in patients suffering athlete’s foot, adding 4-5 drops of geranium oil to a foot bath with a warm water and sea salt may help fight the infection. For best results, use it twice daily.
- Wound Healer: Geranium can help heal wounds and incisions. With its powerful cicatrisant (=skin healing) properties, it helps in blood circulation below the surface of skin. It also fades away the look of scars and spots of acne in your skin. Geranium is often used in natural skin care.
- Urination Promoter: Geranium essential oil promotes urination. It helps release toxins, sugar and sodium from the body.
- Body Odor Eliminator: This could be your next deodorant, protecting your body from perspiration. When you sweat you could smell like flowers. With Geranium’s antibacterial properties, it can eliminate body odors. Add 5 drops of oil to a spray bottle and mix it with 5 tablespoons of water.
- Pain Killer: Geranium can reduce nerve pain. Mix a tablespoon of coconut oil to three drops of this essential oil then massage it to area where you feel the pain.
- Skin Toner: Due to its astringent properties, Geranium helps in tightening and contracting skin. It prevents skin from sagging, and can help reduce wrinkles, thus delaying the effects of premature aging. Mix a tablespoon of jojoba oil to 5 drops of geranium oil and massage into the affected areas to boost your skin elasticity.
- Mental Health Support: Geranium essential oil can help lift your spirits. It is suitable for people suffering from depression or chronic anxiety. It is also beneficial in the treatment of PMS symptoms related to emotional balance and moods.
- Possible Prevention of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: To prevent the formation of neuro-degenerative diseases, this oil can work with the chemistry of the brain to prevent these conditions that lead to memory loss ³.
- Hemorrhage Prevention: The essential oil speeds up blood clotting that aids wound healing and it prevents the toxins to enter to the blood stream through unclotted wounds. 4
- Relaxant: Need a break? Geranium oil gives off a calming aroma similar to the scent of Rose. Put a few drops of this oil to a cotton or wool and set beside your lamp. Make sure to take deep breaths once in a while to let the oil enter your senses and calm your mind. It can also be used as a relaxing massage oil or diluted in an evening bath.
- Dandruff and Head Lice Fighter: Geranium oil can be diluted in shampoo to prevent head lice. It can also be a homemade hair conditioner for dry hair or hair with lots of dandruff. The essential oil helps in recycling the dead cells and supports the regeneration of new cells. Add 10 drops of geranium oil to a cup of water, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and put it in a glass bottle with dispenser. Spray on hair as needed.
- Add Aroma to Perfumes: Geranium leaves provide scent and flavoring in the incredible scent similar to orange, rose, lemon, chocolate and peppermint. In fact, Geranium oil has been used as a substitute for rose oil in perfumes.
- Insect Repellent: Applying geranium oil can be a good insect repellent. You may repeat applying the oil several times a day if you have been bitten by an insect. To keep insects away at night, add a few drops of this essential oil to a cotton or wool ball and set it beside your night light.
Blending With Geranium
Geranium’s amazing properties don’t stop at its individual use.
Don’t be afraid to mix it with other essential oils to create your own custom blend!
Geranium is known to blend well with:
- Angelica essential oil
- Basil essential oil
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Carrot seed essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Lime essential oil
- Orange essential oil
- Grapefruit essential oil
- Neroli essential oil
- Ylang-ylang essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
Blending multiple essential oils together can stack their benefits. Learn more about blending here.
Risks and Cautions
Geranium oil is non-toxic and non-sensitive but there are precautionary measures that need to be followed to avoid problems.
- High doses of geranium oil can lead to skin irritation. Some people may develop rashes or a burning sensation after topical application of essential oils. If you have a skin irritation, it is best to ask for a physician’s advice before continuing its use.
- Although geranium is non-toxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritant, it is not a good idea for pregnant women to use the oil. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid using this essential oil altogether.
- Geranium can be a concern to people who have high blood pressure because it can cause blood vessels to contract and can slow down the blood flow. People with low blood pressure should avoid using geranium oil.
Please note:
- It is best to dilute a solution of geranium oil to carrier oil before applying it to your skin. You may try mixing it with coconut, jojoba or olive carrier oils.
- Avoid applying it near the eyes as it may cause eye irritation.
- Avoid consuming the essential oil orally because the safety of the oil is not known when taken through the mouth.
Geranium Essential Oil Bottles
Where to Buy Geranium Essential Oil
If you want to enjoy the benefits of geranium essential oil, it is important to buy a high quality product. The sad reality of the essential oils industry is that not all essential oils are made equal.
If you want to fully dive into the world of essential oil brands, check out our guide to the best essential oil brands available today.
Oils I can recommend:
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) from Simply Earth, 10 ml for $16.99
- Egyptian Geranium (Pelargonium x asperum) from Plant Therapy, 10 ml for $14.95, Kid Safe
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) from REVIVE, 10 ml for $12
- Rose Geranium (Pelargonium roseum) from Edens Garden, 10 ml for $20.95
Egyptian Geranium from REVIVE
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Egyptian Geranium from Plant Therapy
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Rose Geranium Oil vs Geranium Oil
When shopping for Geranium essential oil, you may come across the terms “Rose Geranium” and “Geranium”.
The latin name for Geranium is Pelargonium graveolens. The latin name for the Rose Geranium variety or Pelargonium roseum. There are over 250 species of Geranium so it is good to check the latin name of the oil you’re purchasing.
Rose Geranium Essential Oil shares virtually all the same properties as Geranium Essential Oil, but it is considered to be superior for the rosy floral note of its fragrance 5. It costs just a little bit more to purchase, but you’ll definitely get that additional bit of scent power with it.
Rose Geranium Essential Oil from Edens Garden
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But don’t let this make you shy away from regular Geranium. As this article from the School of Aromatics states: “A rose pelargonium by any other name would smell just as sweet!”
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, Geranium essential oil should be a staple in your natural medicine cabinet. Not only does it smell beautiful and blend well; its multiple health benefits make it a versatile aromatherapy oil to have on hand.
References
1 Geranium Essential Oil History and Cultivation
² Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro
³ Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of geranium oil in microglial cells
4 Efficacy of a topical sesame/rose geranium oil compound in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia associated epistaxis.
5 Rose Geranium Oil in Aromatherapy & Cosmetics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium
Emma,in the note to use Geranium as a skin toner, I believe you have a typo. You say to mix 1 tablespoon (which is the equivalent of 3 teaspoons) of Jojoba Oil with 5 teaspoons of Geranium. I assume you meant to say 5 drops of Geranium? Love your site. I’ve learned so much from your posts.
Hi Judy! Thank you so much for noticing and letting me know. Yes of course, that was a spelling mistake on my end. I have corrected it now! Thanks again.
Hi Emma, I’m really enjoying learning a about essential oils and your site is my go-to place! I have recently bought rose geranium. Is there much difference between rose geranium and geranium?
Thank you
Hi Sarah, glad to hear! 😊💜 Thank you for your question. Rose geranium and Geranium come from the same botanical family (albeit different varieties), and share virtually all of the same therapeutic properties. Rose geranium has a slightly stronger rosy floral fragrance, which some people may prefer in terms of smell. But for recipes and effects, the two are definitely interchangeable. 🌸
Wonderful! This is very important information about rose geranium essential oil. I needed to know about organic geranium oil for my brother. I’m really thankful to you.