Learn about the benefits and uses of gernaium essential oil. Find out practical ways to use it in your daily life.
Scientific Name: Pelargonium graveolens
Aroma: Sweet, green, citrus-rosy, fresh
Botanical Family: Geraniaceae
Extraction Method: Steam distilled from the leaves
Key Constituents: Citronellol, Geraniol, Citronellyl Formate, Linolol
Geranium essential oil is well known today for being used in many perfumes and cosmetics for its uplifting floral aroma and skin supporting benefits. Traditionally, the Egyptians used it to promote beautiful, radiant skin. This essential oil has a fresh, floral aroma that is uplifting to the senses. It makes a wonderful addition to your beauty care routines with its skin and hair supporting benefits. Not to mention it smells lovely! Geranium essential oil is amazing for many things, such as skincare, hormone support, and much more! These therapeutic benefits come from the constituents of the geranium plant. If you are unsure what constituents are, you can go to my post on constituents for a simple explanation. You can try adding some geranium to roller or diffuser blends, pair it with some citronella to deter outdoor pests, or add it to your beauty routine. No matter how you decide to use it, this essential oil will be a fabulous addition to your arsenal! It is for sure a favorite in our home.
“I like to keep myself wrapped in layers of sleep and wait for the geraniums.” ~ Ursula Hegi
Benefits of Geranium Essential Oil:
Skin Benefits
Geranium has been used for centuries for healing and regenerating the skin. Even today, it is most well known for its skin supporting properties. Geranium promotes a healthy natural glow to the skin through revitalizing skin cells. A blend of geranium and calendula essential oils were studied for their potential to combat skin aging. In this study, it was confirmed that they have age defying properties and photo-protective effects. Geranium may reduce the appearance of fine lines, as it works as a natural astringent to tighten skin. It is wonderful for oily skin because it provides skin cleansing benefits, which may also reduce the appearance of blemishes. One study demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory activity of geranium essential oil. It offers healing support for those suffering various skin irritations. I have found a blend of geranium, patchouli, and lavender to offer soothing and healing support for my young son’s irritated and inflamed spots on his skin.
Neuropathic Pain Benefits
Geranium has been documented to temporarily relieve postherpetic neuralgia pain. This is a painful condition which affects the nerve fibers and skin which run along the nerves. This type of pain is often a side effect of the Shingles virus. One study showed that geranium oil significantly reduced the pain when applied topically to the affected area. The relief happened within minutes, which was temporary, and reapplication as needed was required. There are some ideas for a geranium roller bottle and a massage in the usage section below.
Emotional Benefits
Geranium has an uplifting floral aroma that may help ease negative memories and nervous tension. It can help balance emotions and lift mood. One study showed that inhalation of the aroma of geranium essential oil during labor effectively reduced the anxiety of the laboring mother. This makes it a wonderful, non-invasive way to foster peace, well-being, and hope during times of overwhelming emotions. I personally use a roller bottle blend that contains geranium daily for emotional support. Diffusing geranium is another wonderful way to take advantage of its aroma. At the end of this post, you will find several diffuser blends that contain geranium essential oil.
Female Hormone Benefits
This is my favorite geranium essential oil benefit! Listen up ladies! If you struggle with PMS, geranium may be a wonderful essential oil to try! This study of 120 females discovered that the use of a 2% geranium message for 8 weeks decreased their PMS physical and mental symptoms! I have personally had success eliminating uterine cramping pain with my geranium essential oil blend 10/10 times. (Recipe linked below!) Another study showed that women in perimenopause had an increase of estrogen in their saliva simply from smelling geranium essential oil. This is important, since a decrease in estrogen is the cause of uncomfortable perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Geranium is clearly a wonderful female hormone support essential oil and one that I use daily for this purpose.
Hair Benefits
In today’s society, hair loss is typically from genetic and external factors. These factors could be from environmental toxins, stress, and/or altered hormones. There are currently only 2 chemicals approved by the FDA to treat hair loss. Unfortunately, each of these have a slew of serious adverse side effects. If you are looking for a safe and natural hair growth support, geranium may be a good oil for you to try. One study found that geranium promoted hair growth by regulating growth factors and cellular response. Geranium is a wonderful essential oil for supporting hair health. It helps promote shiny, lustrous hair. I also love that it has a lovely floral aroma, which smells nice on my hair. Personally, I feel good about using this daily.
Safety:
Keep out of reach of children. For external use only. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a health professional prior to use.
Practical Geranium Essential Oil Uses:
1. Support irritated skin: Make my Skin Soother roller bottle for easy application. It features geranium and other skin soothing essential oils. Find my recipe here. This is the recipe I mentioned above that I use for my son.
2. Calm nerves and joints: Mix 8 drops of geranium essential oil into 1 cup of Epsom salts for a calming bath. Using Epsom salt alongside the Geranium can help relieve nerve and joint discomfort. You can also try messaging Geranium directly onto uncomfortable areas. (see #5 below)
3. Soothe skin: Add 6 drops of geranium to 1 cup of ground oatmeal for a soothing skin supporting bath. Using oatmeal with the geranium can add extra support to soothe dry, itchy, or irritated skin.
4. Nourish facial skin: Make my simple Glow Serum recipe for skin nourishing benefits. Use it daily to support your delicate facial skin. Find my recipe here.
5. Enjoy a massage: Use 3 drops of geranium with 1 tablespoon of massage oil, and enjoy a relaxing massage. You can also make a roller bottle using the dilution chart above. Simply drop the correct amount of drops into a 10ml roller bottle, then top off with carrier oil of choice.
6. Freshen the air: Make one of my simple room sprays that contains geranium to spritz around your room. This is wonderful for anytime you want a fresh floral aroma. Find my room spray recipes here.
7. Feminine balance: Make my Pretty Woman roller bottle blend, which features geranium and other female balancing essential oils. You can find my Pretty Woman recipe here.
8. Ance support: Make an acne roller and spot treat problem areas for ance. You can find my Acne Roller recipe here.
9. Deter pests: Make an insect repellent to use anytime you need some help keeping the creepy crawlies away from you outside! You can find my Bug Off Repellent recipe here. Take it up a notch by diffusing geranium and citronella essential oils outside in the area you’re in.
10. Soothe uterine cramps: Use the Pretty Woman female hormone support roller bottle and roll over your uterus anytime it causes you discomfort. For severe discomfort, try using a heating pad in addition to the blend.
11. Support shiny, healthy hair: Add 30 drops of geranium essential oil to my Healthy Hair Spritz recipe for extra shine and hair growth support. You can find the recipe here.
12. Uplift your mood: Try diffusing geranium in the diffuser with some other essential oils to support your body in specific ways.
Favorite gernaium essential oil diffuser recies:
Flower Garden
2 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Geranium Bourbon essential oil
3 drops Bergamot essential oil
Antropologie
3 Idaho Blue Spruce essential oil
2 Grapefruit essential oil
2 Geranium Bourbon essential oil
1 Orange essential oil
Flower Child
2 drops Geranium essential oil
2 drops Lavender essential oil
2 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
2 drops Lemon essential oil
Herbal Remedy
3 drops Geranium essential oil
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
3 drops Grapefruit essential oil
Capri Blue Volcano
3 Idaho Blue Spruce essential oil
2 Grapefruit essential oil
2 Geranium essential oil
1 Lime essential oil
Bye Bugs
2 drops Lavender essential oil
2 drops Geranium essential oil
2 drops Lemongrass essential oil
2 drops Citronella essential oil
References:
- The Aromatherapy Encyclopedia, Schiller, Carol & Dave (2012) Basic Health Publications, Inc.
- Essential Oils Desk Reference 8th Edition, (2019) Life Science Publishing
