What does geranium smell like in perfume? Geranium smells rosy, green and slightly minty, like rubbing a scented geranium leaf between your fingers. It is brighter and greener than rose, and often used alongside it.
| Botanical name | Pelargonium graveolens |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Leaves and stems |
| Origin | Egypt, Réunion and China |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Note | Heart |
| Scent family | Florals |
| Odour | Rosy, minty and green, with a fresh, slightly citrus edge |
| Perfume uses | Fougères, rose accords and fresh florals |
| Key molecules | Citronellol, geraniol, linalool, isomenthone |
| Odour impact | High |
| Odour life on a strip | Medium: most of a day |
| Found in | Mocha Muscari, Rose Rondeaux |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Geranium?
Perfumery geranium is distilled from the leaves of Pelargonium graveolens, the rose-scented geranium, not the garden bedding plant. The finest oil, known as Bourbon geranium, comes from Réunion; Egypt is now the largest producer.
What Does Geranium Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of geranium comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Rosy
A fresh, rose-like floral.
Green
A leafy, crushed-stem note.
Minty
A cool, slightly minty lift.
Citrus
A faint, lemony brightness.
How Perfumers Use Geranium
Perfumers use geranium to freshen and extend rose, to add a floral heart to fougères and to give a green lift to florals. It shares molecules with rose, so the two blend seamlessly.
Why geranium and rose belong together
Geranium contains citronellol and geraniol, two key molecules of rose. That is why it is often used to brighten and stretch a rose accord, giving it a fresh, green sparkle.
Smell Geranium in Prosody London Perfumes
For geranium at its most expressive, try Rose Rondeaux. Geranium brightens the heart beside rose, giving the composition a fresh, green lift. You will also find geranium in Mocha Muscari.
Rose Rondeaux
Mocha MuscariWhat Blends Well With Geranium?
Questions About Geranium
Is geranium the same as rose?
No, but they share key molecules, so geranium smells rosy.
Does geranium smell minty?
Yes, it has a cool, slightly minty green edge.
What pairs with geranium?
Rose, lavender, citrus, patchouli and vetiver.
Explore all of our natural perfume ingredients.
