Geranium Essential Oil: More than Cosmetics
- delilahproctor
- Jan 2
- 10 min read
Welcome back to Harvesters’ Corner! We are looking at Geranium today, a lovely annual flowering plant which a lot of people use in both home and garden to beautify the setting. For the majority of history this unassuming plant was quite content to spend its days in the lands that form South Africa. While many of the plants we have looked at previously were making their way around the trade routes of the world, the flowers Geranium descend from were blooming happily at the foot of Table Mountain, the highly visible mountain overlooking Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope (1) That changed around 1671.
From South Africa to Sri Lanka to the world
Paul Hermann, a German botanist and physician born in 1646, graduated from the medical school in Padua, Italy in 1670. He went to work with the Dutch East India Company as a medical officer, and was assigned to their station in Sri Lanka, the large island off the southern coast of India. Travel in the late 1600s was very different compared to what we are familiar with today. Steam propulsion for ships was nearly two hundred years in the future, and vessels crossing the world’s oceans were still wind-powered. Dutch ships were famous for having large cargo capacities due to their hull design. This same design slowed the ships, however, making any journey a long prospect, especially to one unused to the sea. The vessel Hermann sailed on dealt with strong weather and several ship-board illnesses as it carried Hermann to his new duty station. As was the standard practice, the ship stopped at Cape Town, South Africa to resupply at the victualling station established by the Dutch East India Company. Hermann found himself back on land after several grueling weeks at sea.
Take a moment and put yourself in Hermann’s shoes. Upon his arrival at Cape Town, he discovered plants quite unlike any he had seen in Europe, plus a few he thought looked familiar. There was so much to see and do! And best of all, the ship would be at Cape Town for ten days for repairs and resupply. Oh! How his heart must have leapt for joy at the prospect of ten days to explore this wonderful paradise he entered. As he set out to explore, he came across some flowering plants growing at the foot of Table Mountain. These plants were especially colorful, quite unlike anything he’d seen. Throughout his days of exploration, he kept coming back to these lovely flowers. The stalks of the plant were tall, measuring almost six feet tall (two meters) in length. Each flower had three broad petals at its base with two other petals rising above the rest. (2) Hermann noted that these upper petals were larger on some plants, smaller on others, while yet other flowers had a marked color difference. As his time in Cape Town drew to an end, Hermann packaged up samples of the many plants he had discovered while exploring Table Mountain and arranged to have them sent back to friends in the Netherlands. Then he continued to his duty station at Sri Lanka, where he spent the next five years treating people and exploring that island’s plants. (3)
Of the samples which Hermann sent to Europe, many did not survive the voyage to the Netherlands. Somewhat surprisingly, the flowers he was so enthralled with did survive. Fellow botanists examined the flowers he had sent and concluded that they were a new form of Geranium, which was common in northern Europe at the time. (4) The new flower did well and soon spread to multiple cities in the Netherlands. Soon other European countries were showing interest in the beautiful, exotic, and hardy plant. By 1826, roughly one hundred fifty years after Hermann returned to Europe from Sri Lanka, there were three hundred twenty-five different species of Geranium listed in the Weimar “Hortus Belvederanus” (literally “Garden Summerhouse”) plant almanac. (5)
Horticulture Division
Later botanists questioned whether the new plant was really a Geranium. There were—and still are—some key differences between the two. While both Geranium and the newcomer each have five-petaled flowers, the Geranium’s petals are symmetrical. While Geraniums were hardy plants and able to withstand the winter cold, the newcomer needed to be moved indoors as it was less tolerant to the cold. Geraniums also lack a scent, while the newcomer possessed several different scent profiles. Some botanists even argued that the Geranium’s seed pod (a long thin structure) resembled a crane’s bill, while the newcomer’s seed pod more closely resembled that of a stork (broader, with a slight downward curve). (6) I’ll be honest here. I had a hard time seeing much difference between the two beaks, even after looking at several pictures! In 1787 the French botanist Charles Louis L’Heritier de Brutelle, known simply as L’Heritier, designated the newcomer to be a Pelargonium based on the Greek word for stork: pelargós. (7) While horticulturists world-wide nodded sagely at this classification, most people barely took notice. After all, who plants Pelargoiums in their gardens? Truthfully, that answer is most of us, even though we say we are planting Geraniums. There were twenty different species of Pelargonium when Paul Hermann explored Table Mountain. Today there are at least one hundred varieties of scented Geranium alone, while there are more than two hundred fifty total known varieties. (8,9)
The Historical Folklore and Uses
The historical uses for what we commonly call Geranium are limited due to its geographic isolation for so many centuries. The people indigenous to South Africa were known to use the roots of the flower to ease respiratory concerns, as well as using the plant to create a poultice which was placed over wounds. (10,11) It is used in the modern day as one of the main ingredients of the natural remedy “Umckaloabo,” so named for the species of plant it is derived from. (12) Throughout Europe the flowers became well-entrenched in folklore. They were (and still are) regarded as flowers of remembrance and serve to remind us that the past should be held in high regard and learned from. The colors of the petals were believed to signify many ideals. Red blossoms were considered protective and brought strength and health to households that planted them. The red flowers also warned of the approach of a witch. Pink flowers were believed to bring love, and the white brought fertility. While you can plant whatever color you want, don’t ever dream about Geraniums, as people who do have dreams about Geraniums tend to become melancholy, and are believed to exhibit stupidity or folly. Scent of the flower was also important, as rose-scented flowers could bring love, while nutmeg-scented flowers could help with money problems. (13)
Modern Uses and Co-Impact Sourcing
Today, Geranium is used primarily in cosmetics. There are numerous ways in which certain species of Geranium can be used in culinary applications, with leaves and/or petals being used in desserts, jellies, and teas. (14) The species used in cosmetic applications is the Rose Geranium, Pelargonium graveolens. Unlike most flower essential oils, Geranium uses the entire plant, not just the petals. Harvesting Geranium is a labor-intensive process. The plant is gathered as the flowers are preparing to bloom. Laborers collect the plants ready to be harvested by cutting the plant in half, leaving some leaves behind to help the plant as it regrows. Time is of the essence, as the oil needs to be distilled within hours of the plants being gathered. (15)
The primary sources for dōTERRA’s Geranium are Madagascar and Kenya. We have touched on Madagascar before, especially in our articles on Ylang Ylang, Ravintsara, and most recently, Vanilla. The island is just over 2,000 miles (3,219 Kilometers) from Cape Town and provides a good climate for the flowers to grow. As of 2022, there were over 6,000 farmers and growers working with Co-Impact Sourcing to raise and produce Geranium essential oil. In addition to these growers, Co-Impact Sourcing is also overseeing initiatives to grow Geranium in Kenya. Co-Impact sourcing provides these growers and laborers with good contracts, horticultural knowledge to enable the plant to be properly raised and provides the people with a stable source of income.
There are several ways in which you can enjoy the cosmetic benefits of Geranium oil. Try one of dōTERRA’s skin care products like the Verage Moisturizer, HD Clear, or the Hydrating Cream. The Verage Skin Care product line is composed of Certified Pure, Tested Grade (CPTG) oils so you can be confident they are 100% pure, and consists of a cleanser, a toner, a hydrating serum, and a moisturizer to help your skin develop resilience and a glowing complexion. HD Clear is a blend which can be used in targeted areas of the skin to help reduce the appearance of breakouts and blemishes. The Hydrating Cream helps provide a strong foundation for the skin and contains Lavender, Frankincense, and Jasmine oils alongside Geranium essential oil to help promote healthy skin tone without experiencing an oily residue after application.
Geranium is much more than just a cosmetic, however. There are many uses for this wonderful oil. The pleasant rose-like scent helps promote a calm environment in today’s hectic world. The oil can also help promote good cellular health and augment the body’s immune function. The oil’s primary chemical components include citronellol, citronellyl formate, and geraniol. There is also linalool in Geranium, one of the reasons why it works well as a calming oil. Geranium essential oil has found its way into a variety of products available from dōTERRA, including ClaryCalm, a monthly blend for women to sooth and balance the heightened emotions which women deal with. I can speak from experience where this blend is concerned. There are two weeks a month where I can’t get enough of this blend. What about the other two weeks of the month, you ask? Simple. I can’t stand to be around the oil. Our bodies help us to know what we need when we learn to listen to them. When the oil smells wonderful, trust me, I need it.
Another non-cosmetic use for Geranium is in dōTERRA’s RevitaZen detoxification blend, available as an oil and in the RevitaZen+ Advanced Organ Detoxification Complex. This blend helps assist the body’s ability to rid itself of unwanted substances and helps support healthy liver function when used daily. Research indicates that the geraniol, which helps draw bees to nectar-rich flowers, helps support healthy body functions. Geraniol also acts as an insect repellant. Not surprisingly, this molecule is also found in another natural insect repellant, Citronella. Geranium is a versatile oil where diffusers are concerned. It blends well with spice oils like Basil and Rosemary, citrus oils like Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lime, and Wild Orange, and floral oils like Clary Sage and Lavender. Geranium oil is Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration, so if you are feeling adventurous, try adding a drop or two of Geranium oil in a dessert glaze, water, or in tea.
Healing Hands
When I started this blog, my goal was to share the impact for good which we have collectively as consumers and highlight the projects bringing a better future to the growers and their families. The Healing Hands Foundation had overseen a multitude of projects in both Madagascar and Kenya. One of the first blogs posted here focused on Ylang Ylang, grown off the norther tip of Madagascar on the island of Nosy Be. In addition to building a distillery for the people to use, Healing Hands refurbished a medical clinic and provided a way for the practitioners in the clinic to make house calls, as needed. The mobile clinic which resulted from this initiative has provided health care for many people who would not have ready access to health care. As new plants are grown in Madagascar, new health officers can be chosen in their villages and trained on first aid, expanding the services and reach of the medical center. Many of the people raising Geranium are covered by this mobile clinic. (16)
In Kenya, Healing Hands has overseen the improvements at several schools through the construction of classrooms, libraries, restrooms with running water, and teacher living quarters, in addition to providing scholarships for students and families to afford the tuition costs. In addition, Healing Hands has constructed a community center and provides conservation education to help people understand the importance of restoring indigenous trees back into their forests. Healing Hands has also established a Water Maintenance Trust Fund, which researches the needs of the communities and maintains the water structures recently built for the communities and schools. On top of the services provided, the Healing Hands Foundation provided 250 girls with Days for Girls kits, and provided education to them on the changes their bodies were experiencing, and how to be hygienic with the changes. (17,18)
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium essential oil is a very versatile oil, and I was surprised by the various ways in which the oil is used. Try Geranium oil for yourself and see how it helps with skin, hair, and mood. Ask yourself, are you going to try the oils One day, or is today Day One? The choice is yours to make. I have enjoyed the many ways the oils have impacted and improved my life and encourage you to experience them for yourself. Until our next post, stay safe, and keep sharing the oils!
SOURCES
1. Pelargonium for Europe. “How the Geranium came to Europe.” Online. <https://my-geranium.com/blog/how-the-geranium-came-to-europe/> Accessed 25 August 2025.
2. Encyclopedia Britannica. “Geranium.” 1911 Edition. Online. <https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Geranium> Accessed 25 August 2025.
3. Paul Hermann was not actually the first to classify the flowers. That honor belongs to Charles the First’s botanist, John Tradescent, who discovered them in the early 1600s.
4. Pelargonium for Europe. “How the Geranium came to Europe.”
5. Ibid.
6. Laidback Gardner. “Geranium or Pelargonium? Let’s Stop the Confusion.” Online. <https://laidbackgardner.blog/geranium-or-pelargonium-let-stop-the-confusion/> Accessed 25 August 2025.
7. Pelargonium for Europe. “How the Geranium came to Europe.”
8. Cook, Debs. “Pelargonium.” Lost Story: Old Stories, History, and Tales. Online. <https://www.loststory.net/nature/pelargonium> Accessed 15 July 2025.
9. Heath, Olivia. “13 little known facts about geranium and pelargonium plants.” House Beautiful. Online. <https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/plants/g22040372/Geraniums-pelargonium-facts/> Accessed 25 August 2025.
10. BioAfrica. “Plant Profile – Rose Geranium.” Online. <https://www.bioafrica.co.za/oils.geranium.htm> 15 July 2025.
11. Heath, Olivia. “13 little known facts about geranium and pelargonium plants.”
12. Ibid.
13. Cook, Debs. “Pelargonium.”
14. dōTERRA. “Geranium.” Product Information Page. Online. <https://www.doterrs.com /US/en/p/geranium-oil> Accessed 1 September 2025.
15. dōTERRA. “Source to You: Geranium.” Online. <https://www.sourcetoyou.com /en/stories/story/geranium> Accessed 1 September 2025.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid
18. Days for Girls Kits are built around the Days for Girls Pad, a waterproof shiels with absorbent washable pads that dry quickly. The kits also include additional liners, soap, a washcloth, and a guide for care and use all enclosed in a decorative bag to have the kit readily at hand. In addition, when the kits are distributed, the girls receiving the kits receive health education concerning menstruation and empower girls by helping them understand how their bodies work. For more information check out Days for Girls at <daysforgirls.org>.
Disclaimer
All views on Harvesters’ Corner are those of the author. I am a Wellness Advocate with dōTERRA, and I use the essential oils daily. Any purchases made through my affiliate link may earn me a commission. The oils are not intended to treat or cure any illness.
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