“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” When Shakespeare wrote that in Romeo and Juliet, he might have been thinking of Rose Geranium essential oil. While not a rose, the Rose Geranium plant has leaves that smell strongly like roses. The plant, native to parts of Africa, also goes by rose-scented geranium, sweet-scented geranium, or old-fashioned rose geranium. Its velvety, plush leaves and flowers bloom pale pink or almost white. [1]
Owing to its fragrance, Rose Geranium essential oil is widely used in the perfume and cosmetics industries. It has a thin consistency and is known to blend well with several other essential oils: basil, bergamot, cedarwood clary sage, jasmine, and lavender among them. [2]
Rose Geranium essential oil has a range of medicinal properties. It is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent and anti-fungal, to name a few. Major components include:
- Citronellol: A naturally derived ingredient added to fragrances because of its sweet floral scent. Known to possess anti-inflammatory properties.
- Geraniol: A naturally derived fragrance derived from rose, geranium and citronella plants with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Linalool: A naturally occurring terpene alcohol found in many flowers and plants. It has a floral smell with a touch of spiciness. It is considered to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as anti-anxiety effects to relieve stress.
- Menthone: A natural plant ingredient of peppermint. It is very palliative/analgesic and so is very advantageous for reducing pain like headaches, inflammation, and muscle aches.[3]
Benefits of Rose Geranium
Anxiety and depression
Rose Geranium essential oil often is used in aromatherapy to help alleviate anxiety, depression, and stress. The essential oil has an uplifting aroma to enhance mood.
Skin benefits
Because of its astringent, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, Rose Geranium oil often is used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema as well as common skin conditions like oily and congested skin. Also, because it is a rich source of antioxidants, Rose Geranium essential oil is may help the skin maintain a more youthful and healthier appearance. Its astringent properties can be helpful in rejuvenating the skin by tightening sagging and loose muscles. It also is considered helpful for diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.[4]
Potential for anti-inflammatory drugs
A 2013 study founds that Rose Geranium essential oil helped reduce swelling in the paws and ears of animal subjects. The results indicate that the essential oil may have significant potential for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs with improved safety profile.[5]
You can purchase BIOTONE Geranium Rose Essential Oil in a ½ fluid ounce bottle.
[1] Watson, Kathryn. “What’s a rose geranium? Healthline, February 1, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/rose-geranium-oil
[2] “13 Uses for Rose Geranium Essential Oil” Healthy Focus, Accessed October 27, 2022. https://healthyfocus.org/10-uses-for-rose-geranium-essential-oil/
[3] “Methone,” Biofron, Accessed October 27, 2022. https://www.biofron.com/Menthone/
[4] “13 Uses for Rose Geranium Essential Oil.”
[5] Boukhatem MN, Kameli A, Ferhat MA, Saidi F, Mekarnia M. Rose geranium essential oil as a source of new and safe anti-inflammatory drugs. Libyan J Med. 2013 Oct 7;8(1):22520. doi: 10.3402/ljm.v8i0.22520. PMID: 24103319; PMCID: PMC3793238. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3793238/