Floral

Palmarosa

Note Profile

Botanical 32 perfumes

About

Palmarosa is the essential oil steam distilled from the leaves of Cymbopogon martinii, a tropical grass native to India and Southeast Asia. It is rich in geraniol. It smells fresh, sweet and slightly rosy, with green herbal notes and a hint of citrus. It is softer than true rose. It dries to a grassy warmth and is used in the heart.

Scent Profile

Palmarosa has a fresh, sweet, and slightly rosy aroma with green, herbal undertones and a hint of citrus. Its scent is softer than true rose but carries a similar floral nuance, evolving to reveal a gentle, grassy warmth. One trade sheet also lists a dry, faintly metallic edge. As the grass recedes it dries to a slightly waxy, sweet-floral murmur that stays close to the skin. The note is light yet persistent, offering a clean, uplifting character.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~8h lasting

Family Floral, Green & Aromatic

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

Palmarosa oil

A natural extract

CAS 8014-19-5

The note names the material.

How the layers join

Origin

Palmarosa is derived from the Cymbopogon martinii plant, a tropical grass native to India and Southeast Asia. The essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of the dried or fresh leaves, which are rich in geraniol, the compound responsible for its rosy scent.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use palmarosa primarily as a heart note to impart natural floralcy and freshness to compositions. It blends well with rose, geranium, citrus, and woody notes, and is valued for enhancing the longevity and brightness of floral and herbal accords.