Rose Geranium Oil

Other Name(s):

Pelargonium graveolens Oil; Cape Malva Oil

Rose geranium is a native South African plant but thanks to its exquisite fragrance and wide use in cosmetics, it’s now cultivated widely throughout the world. Studies performed show that using organic fertiliser dramatically improves the essential oil yield from a rose geranium crop and farmers are therefore incentivised to avoid inorganic fertilisers! It is advised to use natural pest control measures as a first line of defence before resorting to chemical sprays. Very interestingly, the plant produces more oil when watering is restricted prior to harvesting. Super sustainable!

Is Rose Geranium Oil Faithful to Nature?

Depends.

Rose geranium essential oil is a floral, fragrant ingredient that can be manufactured safely and farmed very sustainably without harming the environment. It is, however, a powerful ingredient and should be used wisely.

Benefits: Why is Rose Geranium Oil used?

Floral Fragrance

Rose geranium essential oil has a sweet, floral fragrance.

Fights Acne

Rose geranium essential oil may be helpful with the painful symptoms of acne as it tightens and tones with natural astringent and antioxidant properties.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory

Rose geranium essential oil reduces redness and improves skin circulation with natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Natural Antibacterial

Rose geranium essential oil has natural antibacterial properties.

Learn more about Rose Geranium Oil:

Rose geranium essential oil can be found as a single-ingredient item but is also used extensively in cosmetics and household products. Its distinctive fragrance is used to enhance moisturisers, shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, bath salts, soaps as well as aromatherapy candles and air fresheners.

Rose geranium essential oil is made using the fleshy leaves of the Pelargonium graveolens plant. The collected plant material is then steam distilled to extract the essential oil.

There are about 270 known Pelargonium varieties, most of which are endemic to Western Cape.

EU regulations specify that certain fragrance oils commonly found in natural essential oils must be labelled separately on ingredient lists on cosmetic product labels. The EU governing bodies specify this because they are recognised as potential allergens which can irritate sensitive skin. Geraniol, citronellol and linalool are three of these and all are found in rose geranium essential oil.