Fragrance allergen

Geraniol

Geraniol is a rose-scented alcohol that occurs in rose and palmarosa oils. Perfumers use it across floral blends, and soap makers value it. It is also one of the substances EU rules require to be named on a cosmetic label once it passes set concentrations.

Formula
C10H18O
Molar mass
154.25 g/mol
CAS
106-24-1

Where it comes from

Geraniol occurs in rose, palmarosa, citronella, lemongrass and other essential oils. Industry obtains it by fractional distillation of those oils, or makes it from myrcene, which comes from pyrolysis of beta-pinene. Isomerising linalool is a further commercial route to a high-purity grade.

Smell and use

A sweet rose scent with a pleasant, geranium-like floral character. Chemical records list it as a colourless to pale yellow oily liquid and describe the odour as sweet rose, geranium-like and floral.

Geraniol is one of the most frequently used terpenoid fragrance materials. It suits flowery, rose-type compositions and does not discolour soap. In flavours it is added in small amounts to lift citrus notes, and it is an intermediate for geranyl esters, citronellol and citral. It is also used as a biopesticide against mites.

On the label

Named on 76% of the 6,851 perfume ingredient lists we hold (5,213 perfumes).

EU
Annex III, entry 78. Must be named above 0.001% in leave-on products (0.01% rinse-off).
Great Britain
Required, same thresholds. GB Annex III
Patch tests
In Fragrance Mix I, a standard skin-clinic panel.

Geraniol is on the EU list of fragrance allergens that must be named on cosmetic labels. The SCCS opinion SCCS/1459/11 (2012) places it in its table of established fragrance contact allergens of special concern. PubChem lists hazard statement H317 (may cause an allergic skin reaction) for it under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. The SCCS notes it forms geranial and epoxy-geraniol on oxidation. IFRA has a Standard restricting its use.

A list that does not name it does not prove it is absent: brands only have to name it above the threshold.

Frequency by concentration

  • Eau de parfum 76% of 4,898
  • Eau de toilette 79% of 1,227
  • Extrait 71% of 341
  • Parfum 88% of 191
  • Cologne 82% of 108
  • Body spray 33% of 42
  • Other 74% of 27

Share of the perfumes we hold a list for, in each concentration.

Named alongside

Share of the lists naming Geraniol that also name each of these.

Notes whose materials include it

Perfumes whose box names it

Common questions

What does geraniol smell like?

Mainly sweet rose, with a geranium-like floral edge. Chemical records describe the odour as sweet rose, geranium-like and pleasantly floral, which is why it is used in rose and other flowery perfume compositions.

Is geraniol natural or synthetic?

Both. It occurs naturally in rose, palmarosa and citronella oils and can be isolated from them by distillation. It is also made synthetically, for example from myrcene or by isomerising linalool.

Why is geraniol on my perfume label?

EU cosmetics rules list it as a fragrance allergen to be named when present above 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products. It was already on the older labelled list, and the 2012 SCCS opinion kept it as a relevant allergen.