- Energetic & Personality
- Uses
- About
- Chemical Composition
- Why Sacred Soul
- A Message From The Founders
- Dilution
- FAQs
- Sources
- Key Information
Emotional And Energetic Properties Of Rose (Bourbon) Geranium Essential Oil
The uninitiated user could be excused for believing the internet hype that rose geranium is nothing more than a poor man’s rose oil. For indeed, just like rose, geranium has the most incredible hormonal balancing action, it nourishes dry skin and has an uplifting and relaxing nature…
But this essential oil is capable of so much more.
Rose geranium may be one of the most important essential oils in the aromatherapist’s toolbox.
Vitally, it offers adrenal support in a century where we have too much to do but too little time.
Cortisol is anti-inflammatory in nature and helps to repair tissues and bring the body back into alignment after stress. Problems begin, when stress is prolonged, and cortisol seems to turn on its axis and then have an inflammatory effect on the system.
This long-term stress has a cataclysmic effect on health, raising blood pressure, blood sugar, affecting respiration and spreading inflammatory markers of disease right through the body.
It’s extremely important to learn to manage stress.
Aromatherapy is one of the key ways to override the bodies fight and flight reaction, by tricking it into feeling more relaxed than you actually are. Geranium is one of the best oils to use to achieve this.
This essential oil is really well equipped to help improve the emotional and physical body from the ravages of stress.
Geranium has an affinity with excess, however rather than just being a reductive essential oil, (as in reducing excess) we should always consider it to be balancing in nature.
Emotionally, we might think of excessive tears where we can’t stop crying. Or excessive worry, anxiety, or simply feeling things far too acutely. Robbi Zeck puts it beautifully, she says geranium “reduces extremes of stress, bringing you into rhythm, serenely aligning you to a new tempo.”
This nature of geranium for conditions of excess makes it an extraordinary oil for soothing children suffering from overstimulation. Somehow geranium seems to stroke down their aura, so they can assimilate it more readily.
Certainly, if a person exhibits characteristics where they hurt themselves or they strike out at others, as a defence against so much information flying at them, then geranium acts not only as a pacifying influence, but also an anchor to remind them they are in a safe place every time it happens.
It’s calming and structuring without being sedative, so is a wonderful oil to help them get through life generally, without making then feel sleepy.
Gabriel Mojay, in Aromatherapy for Healing The Spirit describes how geranium soothes: “Conveying a feeling of calm strength and security, geranium oil is beneficial for both chronic and acute anxiety.”
Spiritually it’s an excellent essential oil for the empath. If you’re the kind of person who picks up on negative emotions from other people, or who gives away energy to emotional parasites, then geranium seems to have a very levelling action. (Yarrow essential oil, too, is excellent in this situation.)
Physically, geranium relates balancing fluids, so with the skin we see it nourishing dryness but also its astringency clears away oiliness too.
Spiritually, geranium speaks to the balance between the physical and spiritual bodies.
It seems to push spiritual energy through the astral making us feel more solid and stable. It’s as if when the astral energy subsides, we seem to lose our structure and feel more vulnerable, anxious, and melancholy.
You might imagine the surge of geranium energy like a waterjet pushing vitality through the spirit and filling the physical structure, making it feel more robust, more confident and more grounded, certainly more able to deal with the everyday challenges that face us.
You might match that to the fragility of pre- menstrual tension; how the world feels like it’s attacking you, everything is a conspiracy to annoy you, like everyone’s having a go….
Geranium surges that energy up through the physical body making you a more rigid structure for these attacks to simply run off you.
In particular, rose geranium is extraordinary for soothing worry.
Whilst you would not class geranium as a warming oil, per se, it certainly has an affinity for people who suffer from the cold. In some ways, it seems like this may be the same loss of internal energy, somehow.
Perhaps they go very cold when they’re tired or suffer from very cold hands and feet, both of those would be indicators to add a drop of geranium to the blend.
Reasons To Use Rose Geranium Essential Oil
| Use Rose Geranium Oil To: | How To Use |
|
|
| |
|
|
*refer to safety considerations in the attributes tab before use
Learn More About Rose Geranium Essential Oil
Pelargonium is native to South Africa where its therapeutic properties were used by the indigenous people of the land. It's thought to have been introduced to Europe as early as 1600.1
Most of the oil produced today comes from Reunion, Egypt, China and India.
There's a bit of confusion around the name of this essential oil and where it's sourced from, so here's some clarity around it.
Reunion Island used to be named Bourbon... hence the name Bourbon Geranium. This variety of Geranium is also what people refer to as 'Rose' Geranium, although nowadays it might not necessarily come from the Reunion Island as other countries have taken significant market share.
Bourban Geranium essential oil is said to be the most highly sought after and no prizes for guessing that the aroma of this variety of Geranium has a richer, rosier aroma compared to others!2 :)
Pelargonium is actually something of a wonder in that there are hundreds of distinct species. This gives rise to a wonderfully diverse range of oils and aromas... but it also causes confusion.
You might want to take a whiff of Rosemary essential oil before reading on as you might need to focus while we try and explain some of the confusion around the names and sources.
OK... the cultivars used to produce the common essential oil are P. capitatum, P. graveolens and P. radens, but not the natural species of these. This is because the natural species of P. capitatum and P. graveolens are mint scented and P. radens is poor in terms of essential oil with only a very mild rose scent.3
The cultivars will really be hybrids of 'P. capitatum x P. radens' or 'P. capitatum x P. graveolens'. Interestingly, the P. capitatum parent greatly affects the essential oil as it affects the synthesis of the important chemical constituents: geraniol and citronellol.3
Pelargonium x asperum is the correct name given to a cross between P. capitatum and P.radens.
Pelargonium graveolens is the common botanical name commonly to refer to the plant that Bourban/Rose Geranium oil is distilled from.
Commercially this is widely used terminology, but this also isn't technically correct. The cultivar is again likely a cross between P. capitatum and P. graveolens.
The more accurate botanical name would therefore be Pelargonium graveolens var. roseum.1
This applies to all the oil on the market today.
Due to the history of the changing names combined with the 250+ varieties of the plant, the actual true botanical plant source of today's Bourban/Rose Geranium essential oil is hard to detect.
With this one, rather than getting your knickers in a twist over the 'one true' botanical plant source and the 'technically correct' botanical name, we feel it's much more important to focus on whether you have a pure, unadulterated Rose Geranium essential oil.
---
Pssst... not confused enough? Here's more!
Pelargonium isn't actually a Geranium. The seed of Pelargonium is very similar to that of Geranium. This caused confusion with the botanists of an era gone by, who decided that Pelargonium was closely related to European Geranium and decided to name them Geraniums.
Years later, science clarified that the two are not related and the name Pelargonium was once again applied to the plants... but it was too late. The word 'Geranium' was firmly stuck in people’s minds when they thought of Pelargonium.4
Chemical Composition
The origin of the plant can result in significant variation in the chemical constituents. Below is a guide for your reference.
Pharmacopoeias and standards:
- ISO 4731:2012 Essential oil of geranium (Pelargonium x ssp)
| Constituent | Reunion (Bourbon/Rose) | Chinese | Egyptian | Moroccan |
| linalool | 3 - 14% | 3 - 4% | 15 - 18% | 5.5 - 10% |
| citronellol | 20 - 50% | 35 - 40% | 25 - 28% | 18 - 38% |
| neral | 0 - 1% | | | |
| nerol | 0 - 1% | | | 0.5 - 1.5% |
| geraniol | 7 - 30% | 8 - 9% | | 15 - 20% |
| citronellyl propionate | 0 - 2% | 1 - 1.5% | | 0.2 - 5% |
| citronellyl butyrate | 0.3 - 1.5% | | | 0.5 - 1% |
| citronellyl acetate | | | | 1 - 1.5% |
| citronellyl formate | 5 - 13% | 9 - 10% | 6.5 - 7% | 5.5 - 8% |
| β-caryophyllene | 0.5 - 2% | 0.5 - 1.5% | 1 - 1.5% | |
| β-bourbonene | 0.3 - 2% | | | |
| β-myrcene | 0.2 - 2.5% | | | |
| α-caryophyllene | 0.5 - 6% | | | |
| geranyl acetate | 0.2 - 4.5% | | | |
| geranyl formate | 1.5 - 8% | 1.5 - 2.5% | 3.5 - 4% | 3 - 6% |
| germacrene D | | 0.5 - 1.5% | 0.5 - 1.5% | |
| geranyl propionate | 0.1 - 2% | | 1 - 1.5% | 0.5 - 1.5% |
| geranyl butyrate | 0.5 - 2% | 0.5 - 1% | 1.5 - 2% | 0.5 - 2.5% |
| citronellyl tiglate | 1 - 2% | 0.5 - 1.5% | | |
| geranyl tiglate | 0.2 - 3% | 1 - 1.5% | 1.5 - 2% | 1 - 2.5% |
| menthone | 0.1 - 2% | 1 - 2.5% | | 1 - 2% |
| isomenthone | 3 - 10% | 5 - 6% | 5.5 - 6% | 4.5 - 5% |
| 10-epi-y-eudesmol | 0 - 9% | | 5 - 6% | 0 - 5% |
| rose oxide | 0.3 - 1.5% | 1.5 - 2% | 0.9 - 1% | 1 - 1.5% |
| guaiα-6,9-diene | 0.1 - 7% | 6 - 7% | 0.5 - 1.5% | |
Our Commitment To Quality
Every batch of rose geranium oil we receive is tested for purity and quality. Each batch of essential oil can differ, even from the same producer. Because essential oil is extracted from plants, it can be affected by many factors such as the weather, the seasons, and human error... a bit like fine wine.
This is why we carry out batch testing even if the batch is from the same supplier so we can guarantee consistent quality.
The farms we’ve chosen to work with consistently provide incredibly pure, high quality oils. We regularly review our producers with a stringent set of quality guidelines that we’ve developed in partnership with our industry experts and their 20+ years in the industry.
“Even an oil which is quite truthfully described as pure may be of poor quality, and therefore of less value therapeutically. IF AN ESSENTIAL OIL COSTS MUCH LESS THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT TO PAY FOR IT, the oil may well be a third or fourth distillate from a batch of plant material which has already yielded the greater part of its properties to the first or second distillation.”
About The Cultivation
Our mission is to provide you with the purest essential oils that contain the therapeutic properties you need to support yours and your family’s health.
Sometimes this means the oil is certified organic but acquiring an organic certification can be quite costly to farmers, which means many choose not to obtain it. Oils derived from plants that are organically grown or wildcrafted are still free from man-made chemicals despite not being certified. This means the oils can be of equal or better quality than comparable certified organic products and often at a lower price.
We also try our best to source single origin essential oils wherever possible.
How We Package Our Rose Geranium Oil
Our rose geranium oil is fresh off the still and comes in a 10ML blue glass bottle and is sealed to protect the precious oil within. The bottle also comes with an orifice reducer built in so you can dispense the oil one drop at a time.
During the shipping process, special canisters prolong and protect the quality of the oil from light and temperature during transit from around the globe and we ensure a quick turnaround time from producer to bottle, with minimal shelf time to maintain quality and purity.
We typically recommend storing your oil at or below room temperature in a cool dark place.
The Tests We Run On Our Oils To Ensure Quality
All of our oil is constantly tested for purity. The testing provides us with key data about what constituent compounds are in the oils and at what volumes.
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Gas Chromatography (GC) describes the analytical separation technique used to analyze volatile substances in the gas phase. In GC, the components of a sample are dissolved in a solvent and vaporized in order to separate the analytes by distributing the sample between two phases: a stationary phase and a mobile phase. GC provides us key data about what compounds are in oils and how much of each component is present.
Mass Spectrometry (MS)
Mass Spectrometry (MS) is an analytical chemistry technique that identifies the amount and type of individual molecules present in a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio. A mass spectrometer has three essential functions: Ion source, Mass analyzer and the Detector. The Ion source is where the sample is ionized. Once the sample is ionized, the mass analyzer sorts and separates the ions according to the mass and charge. Once the ions are separated and sorted then the separation is measured in the detector where a results chart is displayed.
A personal message from our founders
Ultimately we believe that an oil, like the business that stands behind it, should be ethical and be exactly what it says on the tin. That’s why we only use the highest quality Rose Geranium (Bourbon), with the highest quality extraction methods, and shipped with the highest quality packaging.
It’s also why you won’t see us throwing around buzzwords that don’t mean anything, like “therapeutic grade” or “clinical grade.” When we describe our oils, we mean what we say.
We believe that the more you know about essential oils in general, the more likely you’ll want to become a part of the Sacred Soul community.
If for any reason you’re unsatisfied with our oil, I want to personally invite you to email me and let me know. I’ll be happy to refund your money within the first 90 days of your purchase.
I’m betting my business on the fact that you’ll be blown away by the quality and aroma of our Rose Geranium essential oil.
Either way, thanks for stopping by our site and checking us out. We hope every interaction you have with us, in person, or online is positive and memorable. Feel free to drop us a note on our contact page if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback for us.
Sincerely,
Dilution Guide
IMPORTANT:
This guide is a general overview for oils that don't have a more restricted dermal recommendation and are considered safe for topical use with adults age 16+. It also doesn't account for any specific medical issues, medication or skin conditions. You should check with a medical professional or aromatherapist before use. Below are not recommended dosages. Never apply undiluted to the skin.
ALWAYS check the max dermal use for the individual oil/s or blend you plan to use. You should also consider your medical and skin conditions and take the advice of a qualified professional. Serious negative effects such as skin sensitization, irritation, burns and other issues could occur from misusing essential oils and products containing essential oils.
Patch test: For first time use, place a drop of diluted essential oil on a small area of skin such as the inside elbow. After application, be aware of adverse reactions for the first 24-48 hours.
General Use
See below for approximate dilution ratios and usage guidelines. These are NOT recommended dosages and you should always consult with a medical professional or qualified aromatherapist before use.
Always start with a low dilution.
- 0.5% - 1% = facial, long term daily use or full body application
- 2% = generally good for regular use
- 3% = for specific localised concerns
- 5% = short term specific concerns (max 2 weeks)
- 10% = acute specific concerns
When measuring in 'drops', just be aware that the only way for true accuracy is to measure your drops using a digital scale because different oils can amount to a slightly different number of drops per ml. The orifice reducer in the bottle is also not a standard size so could differ between brands, which could affect the size of ‘a drop’ and therefore your dilution %. This table is intended as an approximate guide only.
*30ml is 1 ounce
| Dilution % | 5ml (1tsp carrier oil) | 10ml (2tsp carrier oil) | 15ml (3tsp carrier oil) | 30ml (6 tsp carrier oil) |
| 0.5% | <1 drop | 1 drop | 2 drops | 4 drops |
| 1% | 1 drop | 3 drops | 4 drops | 9 drops |
| 2% | 3 drops | 6 drops | 9 drops | 18 drops |
| 3% | 4 drops | 9 drops | 13 drops | 27 drops |
| 5% | 7 drops | 15 drops | 22 drops | 45 drops |
| 10% | 14 drops | 30 drops | 44 drops | 90 drops |
Can it be used internally?
As a brand, we have taken the position that essential oils are for external use only and should not be taken internally. We therefore will never state that any essential oil is food grade as this indicates that it is fit for human consumption.
Can it be used in a diffuser/oil burner?
Yes it can! :)
Can you use direct on the skin?
No we never recommend that any essential oil is used direct on the skin. Always dilute with a carrier, even when using in the bath.
Is it certified organic?
In the additional details section on the product page, you will see the cultivation listed in the attributes. It will state ‘certified organic’ and the program under which certification was obtained if the oil is certified organic.
Sometimes an oil will be derived from plants that have been organically grown but the producer doesn’t have organic certification (organic certification comes with a price that many producers choose not to obtain). This doesn’t mean the oil is of a lower quality and in fact the opposite can be true. The cultivation will state ‘organically grown’ if this is the case.
Wild-crafted/wild-harvested means that the plants have been harvested from the wild rather than a plantation.
Is it therapeutic grade?
Therapeutic grade is a term created to assist with marketing. There isn’t an official industry standard for therapeutic grade so we refuse to use this term.
What is the difference between Rose Geranium and Geranium?
The name ‘Rose Geranium’ refers to the variety of Geranium known as Bourbon Geranium which was originally associated with the Reunion Islands. The name stems from the sweet, rosy aroma. You can read more about the naming convention and the confusion around this topic in the ‘About’ tab.
Sources
- Lis-Balchin M. History of nomenclature, usage and cultivation of Geranium and Pelargonium species. In Lis-Balchin M. ed. Geranium and Pelargonium. Taylor and Francis Group, London, 2002: 5-10. (Medical and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles; 27)
- Weiss EA. Essential oil crops. CAB International, Wallingford, 1997
- Demarne FE. Rose-scented Geranium a Pelargonium grown for the perfume industry. In Lis-Balchin M. ed. Geranium and Pelargonium. Taylor and Francis Group, London, 2002: 193-211. (Medical and Aromatic
- James J. Cultivation and sales of Pelargonium plants for ornamental use in the UK and worldwide. In Lis-Balchin M. ed. Geranium and Pelargonium. Taylor and Francis Group, London, 2002: 80-91. (Medical and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles; 27)
- BabarAli, Naser Ali Al-Wabel, Saiba Shams, Aftab Ahamad, Shah Alam Khan, Firoz Anwar (2015) Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, Volume 5, Issue 8, 601-611.
- Han X, Beaumont C, Stevens N. (2017) Chemical composition analysis and biological activities of ten essential oils in human skin cells. Biochim Open., 5:1-7
- Madeleine Kerkhof-Knapp Hayes (2015) Complementary Nursing in End of Life Care. Wernhout (NL): Kicozo - Knowledge Institute for Complementary Nursing
- Poštić S (2009) A kao aromaterapija. Zagreb, ETERA
- Purchon N., Cantele L. (2014) The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness. Toronto, Robert Rose Inc.
- Marković S. (2005) Fitoaromaterapija. Zagreb, Centar Cedrus
- Purchon N., Cantele L. (2014) The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness. Toronto, Robert Rose Inc.
- Kočevar Glavač N. et al. (2015) Sodobna kozmetika. Velenje, Širimo dobro besedo
- Worwood VA, The Fragrant Mind. Transworld Publishers, London, 1997
- Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy, third edition. Black Pepper Creative Pty Ltd, 2018
- Tisserand and Young, Essential Oil Safety, second edition. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014
- Price Shirley & Len, Aromatherapy For Health Professionals, fourth edition. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2012
- Schnaubelt K, Advanced Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press, 1998
| Brand | Sacred Soul Holistics |
| Size | 10ml |
| Botanical Name | Pelargonium graveolens |
| Plant Family | Geraniaceae |
| Plant Part | Leaves, Twigs/Branches |
| Country Of Origin | Reunion Island |
| Extraction Method | Steam Distilled |
| Cultivation | Conventional, Single Origin |
| Aroma | Floral, Green, Rosy, Sweet |
| Notes | Middle-Top |
| Consistency | Thin |
| Colour | Clear to green-y olive colour |
| Chemical Family | Monoterpenols |
| Approx Shelf Life | 5 years |
| Energy | Cool and moist, it clears heat and calms the mind and strengthens Qi. Calming and strengthening it provides security, so good to use when feeling anxious, stressed or mentally exhausted. It compliments lavender well in these properties, but lavender is said to be more suitable to people whose mind is overrun with emotions, where geranium is best suited to rational mind that's lacking in emotion and feeling. Geranium also helps us to reconnect to our emotions and our feelings of pleasure and enjoyment which opens up greater intimate communication. In Ayurveda geranium helps balance the Vata and cool the Pitta. |
| Chakras | 2nd – Sacral, 6th – Third Eye |
| Mind & Emotions | Calming & Relaxing, Grounding & Balancing |
| Blends With | Lemony citruses such as melissa and lemon balm. Mints like peppermint and spearmint. Floral and herbaceous heart notes like lavender and ylang ylang. Base notes like patchouli, sandalwood... well pretty much every single base note going! Geranium is very much a go-with the flow kind of gal and brings out the beauty of most essential oils in blends. Other oils it blends well with: basil, bay, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, cajuput, cananga, cardamom, carnation, chamomiles, cistus, clary sage, cypress, blue cypress, fennel sweet, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, hyssop, immortelle, jasmine, juniper berry, lemon, mandarin, myrtle, neroli, orange sweet, rose, rosemary, vetiver |
| GC/MS Testing | Batch Number: 19076 |
| Disclaimer | The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by medical practitioners. Neither Sacred Soul Holistics nor its products are intended for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products. |
| Safety | General: Specific: |
| Application | Bath, Compress, Diffuse, Inhale, Massage, Topical |
| Recipes | Calming Massage Oil:
Method of Use: Use as and when required, either use as a full body massage oil, or simply to rub onto the wrists to get the oils into the system. Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy. --- Peaceful diffuser blend:
|
| Dilution Guide | Dilution rates of essential oils are generally at a rate of 1%, 2% or 3% ratio of essential oil to carrier. For facial use it's usually max 0.5%. Some essential oils are even less than this or not to be used topically at all so check the safety of the individual oil before use. |