Geraniol is a naturally occurring scent ingredient found in various essential oils such as rose oil, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil. It is a colorless oil, although commercial samples can appear yellow, and has low solubility in water, but it is soluble in common organic solvents. Geraniol is classified as D2B (Toxic materials causing other effects) using the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) .
Geraniol is an acyclic monoterpene alcohol that has a pleasant rose-like aroma. It is a common constituent of several essential oils in plants like geraniums, palmarosas, and Java citronella. Geraniol is used in various cosmetic products, such as deodorants, soaps, creams, and perfumes, due to its sweet, uplifting floral scent.
Here are some positive and negative aspects of geraniol:
Positive:
- Geraniol has a pleasant rose-like aroma.
- It is used in various cosmetic products, such as deodorants, soaps, creams, and perfumes, due to its sweet, uplifting floral scent.
- Geraniol has been shown to have antioxidant, antitumor, and anticancer properties.
- Studies have shown that geraniol can fight inflammatory responses in the body.
Negative:
- Geraniol is classified as D2B (Toxic materials causing other effects) using the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) .
- Geraniol can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people.
The main chemical constituents of geranium essential oil, which contains geraniol, are linalool, geranyl formate, citronellol, and geraniol itself. Linalool is believed to exhibit sedative, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-epileptic, and analgesic activity. Geranyl formate is believed to exhibit anti-fungal, hepatoprotective, and aromatic (fresh, green, floral, fruity) activity. Citronellol is believed to exhibit anti-fungal, sedative, and anti-viral activity.
