Geranium
Pelargonium Graveolens
Geranium Oil is a herbaceous and refreshing scent, and is used in aromatherapy to treat anxiety and fatigue, amongst other health conditions; it is also believed to balance hormones. In perfumery, Geranium is a popular component, making it a multi-use oil perfect for your health, and for your beauty regime.
History of Geranium Oil
Geranium Oil dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptian period, and was used mostly for beauty purposes, as it helped with skin complexion and texture. When it was introduced in Europe, it was used in fragrances, finger bowls and insect repellent. Other cultures and countries used geranium to ward off evil spirits, and its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties made it popular in alternative medicine practices. The smell of Geranium is sweet, spicy and floral, but overall a universally pleasant scent which in present day is popular in moisturisers, soaps, perfumes and other beauty products.
The shrub is now cultivated worldwide for its oil, and grows in South Africa, Egypt, Central America, Japan and Russia to name a few. In aromatherapy it reduces feelings of stress and anxiety, and can help to balance emotions and hormones. Today, it is still popularly used in skincare as an anti-ager, as it keeps the skin taut and minimises the appearance of wrinkles!
So, why is Geranium Oil still so popular today?
Due to its beautiful scent and multiple uses in beauty, alternative medicine and aromatherapy, Geranium Oil has cemented itself in many industries, and has gained popularity in perfumery. Well known high end brands such as Jo Malone, Diptyque, Dior and Estee Lauder all use Geranium in one or more of their signature perfumes, as its complex scent can add depth and intensity to a fragrance.
Scent aside, it is also used in beauty products because of its anti-aging properties; serums, moisturisers, creams and oils can be found with Geranium Oil in them because of the benefits. It is a fairly inexpensive oil that comes with a ton of uses, and overall, it’s an oil that ticks many boxes, and we don’t see the popularity around Geranium Oil diminishing any time soon! Using this oil at home would be simple, as you could use it in moisturisers and home made candles, as well as a natural day to day perfume if you wished.
In terms of its compatibility with other oils, Geranium Oil works beautifully with a number of other essential oils on the market, despite it having a complex scent. This could be another reason that the oil is so popular, as it’s versatile and can work layered with many other essential oils in your collection.
Extracting Geranium Oil
Like most essential oils out there, Geranium Oil is extracted using a process called steam distillation. The geranium leaves and stalks are put into a distiller, where steam is used to lift the oil where it collects with the condensed, cold water. It can be skimmed from the top after around three to four hours of steam distillation. The process is a delicate and non-invasive way of yielding the oil, and the amount of steam can actually be controlled by the distiller, so you can have complete oversight into how the process is going. This is the most common method on a commercial scale, and it also doesn’t damage the end product.
Can I make Geranium Oil at home?
Yes, you can! If you have access to renting or buying a small, in home distiller you can make geranium, along with other essential oils from scratch. Accessing geranium flowers will completely depend on your location, and if you have the growing conditions that are practical to produce enough of the plant to yield you oil. The geranium plant requires at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, with moist soil, so if you live in a notoriously cold climate with very little warmth during summer months, you may struggle to grow the flower and make the oil from scratch.
However, if you own a small distiller and can grow it yourself, then of course you can! The process does take around a day as the distiller must work its magic for at least 6 hours, but if you are someone who loves making essential oils then we don’t see why you shouldn’t give this a go! Also, if you don’t have a steam distiller but have access to geranium, you could always infuse a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba with the leaves and stems, leave it for 1-2 weeks and then drain the flowers, leaving you with a nice blend of geranium and carrier oil.
Can I make Geranium Oil at home?
Yes, you can! If you have access to renting or buying a small, in home distiller you can make geranium, along with other essential oils from scratch. Accessing geranium flowers will completely depend on your location, and if you have the growing conditions that are practical to produce enough of the plant to yield you oil. The geranium plant requires at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, with moist soil, so if you live in a notoriously cold climate with very little warmth during summer months, you may struggle to grow the flower and make the oil from scratch.
However, if you own a small distiller and can grow it yourself, then of course you can! The process does take around a day as the distiller must work its magic for at least 6 hours, but if you are someone who loves making essential oils then we don’t see why you shouldn’t give this a go! Also, if you don’t have a steam distiller but have access to geranium, you could always infuse a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba with the leaves and stems, leave it for 1-2 weeks and then drain the flowers, leaving you with a nice blend of geranium and carrier oil.
Geranium Oil Varieties
Geranium Oil Varieties
In terms of varieties, it could be argued that there are hundreds of varieties of geranium due to the historical roots of the shrub, but in the essential oil market there are namely two types of Geranium Oil; these are “Egyptian” and “Bourbon”. They vary slightly in scent, as well as their therapeutic benefits being different, too. The Bourbon variation has a softer, more floral scent, and is best used for skincare, balancing the mind and also menstrual pain. The Egyptian kind is a fresher aroma, with the ability to relieve muscle pain as well as anxiety and stress. Both target issues such as headaches and stress, but the variations do have their own unique issues that they target, too.
So, which variety of Geranium Oil should I choose?
With most essential oils that don’t have distinctive varieties that you can purchase, the best thing you can do is look into the reviews of the oil online and see exactly what it is described to target. Everybody has different goals that they are looking to achieve with essential oils, and that could be general wellbeing all the way to creating all-natural cleaning products to live a chemical free lifestyle. Naturally, the more expensive varieties of oil can be relative to how rare that type of oil is, but it also may be down to the brand you are purchasing from.
What do you think of Geranium Oil? Is it an essential in your collection? As always, the Essentially Yours team loves to hear how you are using your essential oils, as well as the blends that you are trying at home. So, feel free to reach out to one of the team today!
So, which variety of Geranium Oil should I choose?
Depending on what you are looking to target, you may find Egyptian a better option than Bourbon, or vice versa. Another key deciding factor in which variety works for you would also be down to the overall aroma, as if you are planning to use the oil in aromatherapy you may find that certain scents work better on you than others. In general, the Bourbon variation tends to blend with other essential oils better due to its softer aroma, so if you’re looking for a Geranium Oil that has this quality we would recommend choosing that one. Also, if you are looking to specifically target something such as menstrual pain, anxiety or depression, you are better off going for a variation that has a higher success rate in treating that issue.
What do you think of Geranium Oil? Is it an essential in your collection? As always, the Essentially Yours team loves to hear how you are using your essential oils, as well as the blends that you are trying at home. So, feel free to reach out to one of the team today!
Benefits of Geranium Oil
Geranium Oil has been used for hundreds of years, with its first usage being recorded by Ancient Egyptians! Over the centuries Geranium Oil has been used across alternative medicine, perfumery, beauty and cooking, and today serves an important role in aromatherapy, skincare and perfumery mostly. A lot of high end designers will use Geranium Oil in their perfumes, and skincare brands will use Geranium Oil as it is proven to keep the skin taut, moisturised and youthful!
So, what are the benefits of Geranium Oil?
Pain relief in muscles and joints
Whether Geranium Oil is used in a massage oil, in the bath or topically, the oil can relieve tension and pain in your muscles and joints!
Decongestant
Similar to Eucalyptus Oil, Geranium Oil can be used inhaled or via an electric diffuser to help decongest your nose and chest, which can also help to alleviate headaches or other uncomfortable feelings associated with being congested.
Medicinal uses
Geranium Oil has a number of medicinal uses, such as repelling bugs, soothing itches, bites and scratches as well as helping wounds to heal faster due to antibacterial properties. It is mostly mixed with other potent essential oils to make these medicinal blends.
Antidepressant/antianxiety
In aromatherapy, Geranium Oil is used either on its own or blended with other essential oils to combat feelings of depression and anxiety. It is proven to alleviate feelings of stress and instil a feeling of calm. When used regularly Geranium Oil can help to diminish these feelings and leave you feeling calmer and present.
Improves skin cell health
The properties of Geranium Oil make them a perfect partner to your skin routine, as the oil improves your overall skin cell health, keeping it taught, bright and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Promotes hair growth
Used on the scalp (or on the ends of your hair if you want to give them a boost) Geranium Oil promotes hair growth and when used regularly, can improve the health of your scalp and combat excessive oil or dandruff.
Please note that the benefits of Geranium Oil may vary from person to person, and if you don’t see results straight away - persevere! Changes won’t happen overnight, and regularly using essential oils will enable you to understand what does and doesn’t work for you.
Uses of Geranium Oil
Geranium Oil has been used for hundreds of years to boost mood, create a gorgeous perfume or relieve stress. Over the years it has cemented itself into modern skincare, beauty products and perfumes, not just because of its beautiful scent, but because it really works wonders when used on the skin! It can improve elasticity, make the skin feel taut as well as keep it looking fresh and healthy.
So, what can I use Geranium Oil for?
Aromatherapy
In aromatherapy Geranium Oil is popularly used to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety, and can help aid restful sleep. It can also be used in a diffuser to help with feelings of sadness, and in some circumstances clear a sore throat.
Perfume
Simply dabbing the oil topically onto your wrists, behind your neck and on your collar bones can create a long lasting, gorgeous perfume. Combine with other essential oils to make your own personalised scent!
Lotions, serums and oils
Geranium Oil can help with your skin's health, improving the look of fine lines and keeping your skin taut. Mixing a few drops into a carrier oil or plan lotion can help to improve your skin's health whilst also giving you a gorgeous scent, too.
Hair conditioner
Adding a few drops of oil onto the ends of your hair can act as an overnight conditioner to add nourishment and moisture to your ends and scalp, too. It can also be used with a hair oil to add shine and ensure you keep dry ends at bay!
Nourishing baths
Soothing muscle pain or general fatigue can be difficult to do, but using Geranium Oil along with bath salts in a warm bath can help to soak your muscles, increase blood flow and leave you feeling less tense.
Menstrual pain
Essential oils can be a great remedy for menstrual pain, and Geranium Oil can be used with a carrier oil along with Clary Sage and Lavender to create a soothing rub which can be used to relieve cramps. We recommend Castor Oil as your carrier oil!
Candles and home cleaners
DIY candles, room sprays, linen sprays and polishes can all be made with Geranium Oil, and can give each room a gorgeous lift!
Blends well with
Here at Essentially Yours we love sharing our trips, tricks and knowledge with you, so you can get the most out of your essential oil collection. Whether it’s brushing up on the latest blends, or understanding the history behind an oil - our website has all the information you’ll need. In this blog we are going to be talking about which other essential oils blend well with Geranium Oil. So, if you want to learn more - keep reading!
Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil is a beautiful carrier oil that is rich in fats and antioxidants that are crucial to keeping the skin supple and moisturised. When blended with Geranium Oil it can be used to create soaps, face masks, massage oils and facial oils. The Coconut Oil will deeply moisturise whereas the geranium will tighten the skin and leave your complexion feeling clean and clear.
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Jojoba Oil
This is one of our favourite carrier oils, especially if you are someone with sensitive and/or acne prone skin. Jojoba Oil is made up of similar properties that are found in your natural skin oils, making it the perfect partner for facial routines as it won’t add excess oil to your face, which in turn may clog your pores. Similar to coconut, you can use this blended with geranium to create moisturisers and facial masks, as well as combining with sugar or sand to create an intense body scrub.
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Almond Oil
Sweet and silky, almond and geranium can work beautifully together to create moisturisers, balms and facial treatments. Almond Oil is rich in vitamin E, and can be used on its own or with Geranium Oil to create a plumping, moisturising lip balm or scrub treatment to be used before bed.
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Lavender Oil
The holy grail of essential oils, Lavender Oil practically pairs with every essential oil on the market, and the floral scent mixed with geranium can make a beautiful blend that can be used before bed to aid restful sleep.
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Cedarwood Oil
A woody and warming scent, like Lavender Oil, Cedarwood Oil complements many other essential oils on the market, and when blended with Geranium Oil can create a soothing muscle rub or reduce headaches and anxiety when used in aromatherapy.
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Bergamot Oil
Citrusy but subtle, Bergamot Oil and Geranium Oil are a match made in heaven. Both have fragrant, floral tones and the citrus from the Bergamot Oil can create an uplifting aromatherapy blend to help you concentrate, and relieve tension. It can also be used topically to create a beautiful perfume.
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Rosemary Oil
Herby and slightly woody, Rosemary Oil and Geranium Oil combined can create an excellent bug repellent, or a nourishing facial mask.
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