Distilled on Réunion Island

It smells like rose because it makes the same molecules rose does.

Rose Geranium Essential Oil 10mL

Rose Geranium is not a rose and not really a geranium either. It is Pelargonium roseum, and it produces geraniol and citronellol, two of the compounds that give rose its character. That chemical overlap is why it has been used as a rose note for well over a century, at a fraction of the price of the real thing.

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  • Single origin, Réunion Island
  • GC/MS tested, every batch
  • Certified B Corporation
Zea Rose Geranium Essential Oil 10mL bottle
Rose Geranium Essential Oil in a home setting Rose Geranium Essential Oil styled product photograph Zea Rose Geranium Essential Oil bottle
Rose Geranium Essential Oil

What Rose Geranium actually is.

Rose Geranium is steam distilled from the aerial parts of Pelargonium roseum. The plant is a pelargonium, not a true geranium, and it is grown for its aromatic leaf rather than its flower. The aroma is similar to geranium but with distinct rose floral notes over a base that is both sweet and herbaceous.

From bush to bottle

Rose Geranium Essential Oil styled with foliage
Step one · grown

Grown for leaf, not flower

The flowers are almost incidental. The oil sits in the leaf and stem, so the crop is cut as green aerial growth rather than picked at bloom. Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, has produced this oil for well over a century and the type is still known in the trade by that origin.

Rose Geranium Essential Oil in a styled setting
Step two · harvested

The whole aerial part

Leaves and soft stems are cut together. The plant reshoots after cutting, so a planting is harvested repeatedly rather than replaced, and the material goes to the still quickly because soft green herb does not hold its oil well once cut.

Zea Rose Geranium Essential Oil bottle
Step three · distilled

Steam distilled, nothing added

Steam passes through the cut herb and lifts the volatile oil with it. Nothing is added afterwards. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis.

Rose Geranium Essential Oil

Why it can stand in for rose, and where it cannot.

Rose otto is one of the most expensive oils in existence, because it takes thousands of petals to produce a few grams. Rose Geranium shares two of rose's signature molecules, geraniol and citronellol, which is why the nose reads it as rose-adjacent and why it has been used as a rose extender in perfumery for generations.

It is not the same thing, and it should not be sold as though it were. Rose otto carries hundreds of trace constituents that give it depth Rose Geranium does not have, and Rose Geranium brings a green, herbaceous edge that rose does not. Used honestly, as its own oil rather than a substitute, it is excellent value and considerably more versatile.

Quality and testing

What “100% pure” actually means on this bottle.

Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis. The full constituent breakdown sits on the batch certificate rather than here, because the ranges shift with each season and harvest.

Botanical name
Pelargonium roseum (Geraniaceae)
Botanical origin
Réunion Island
Place of extraction
Réunion Island
Plant part
Aerial parts
Method
Steam distillation
Odour
Rose floral notes over a sweet, herbaceous base
Also known as
Geranium Bourbon
Strength of aroma
Medium to strong
Additions
None. No synthetics, fillers or additives
Storage
Below 30°C, dry, away from direct sunlight
Rose Geranium Essential Oil

Réunion Island, in the Indian Ocean.

Réunion has grown this crop for more than a century, long enough that the trade still calls the type Bourbon after the island's former name. Volcanic soil, altitude and a subtropical climate suit the plant, and the origin has become shorthand for a particular quality of the oil.

Rose Geranium, rose and lavender

  Rose Geranium Rose otto Lavender
Botanical Pelargonium roseum Rosa damascena Lavandula angustifolia
Part distilled Leaf and stem Petals Flower head
Shared molecules Geraniol, citronellol Geraniol, citronellol Linalool
Relative cost Modest Very high Modest
Aroma Rose over green herb Deep, layered floral Sweet, soft floral
Stocked by Zea Yes No Yes

A botanical and aroma comparison to help you choose between oils. It is not a claim that one oil performs better than another.

Properties

What Rose Geranium is traditionally valued for.

Brightening Promotes relaxation Elevates mood Calming and grounding Anti-inflammatory

Traditional and aromatherapy properties associated with this oil. Individual results differ, and this is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.

Ways to use it

Diffuse it

3 to 6 drops in a diffuser or oil burner. The simplest way in.

Blend it

Rose Geranium blends with Sweet Orange, Cedarwood, Patchouli and the citrus oils.

Diluted on skin

One or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba. Patch test first.

On a tissue

One drop inhaled from a tissue when you want the aroma on the move.

Room and linen mist

A few drops in water instead of a synthetic air freshener.

In the bath

Well dispersed in a carrier or with bath salts, never neat on water.

Natural cleaning

A few drops in a homemade surface spray as a fresh deodoriser.

In skincare

A drop in an unscented moisturiser or facial oil, well diluted.

Using it safely

  • For external use only. Never apply undiluted, and never take it internally.
  • Always dilute in a carrier oil before skin contact, and patch test first.
  • Avoid contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children.
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your health practitioner first.
  • Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Store below 30°C, out of direct sunlight.

What customers tell us

★★★★★

In home skincare

“I love using this in my home made skin care. Quick and easy delivery too”

Debra B. · Verified buyer

★★★★★

In the diffuser

“I love my diffuser because I can leave it on longer. It's been a great support to diffuse my rose geranium and other essential oils.”

Megan C. · Verified buyer

★★★★★

Excellent quality

“Ive tried essential oils across various companies online. And i must say Zea is exceptional. Truly grateful for the level of quality that each of my orders with them have come with.”

Anne Lynn T. · Verified buyer

Five-star reviews from verified Judge.me buyers. The third speaks to the Zea Essentials range rather than to this oil specifically. Individual experiences differ.

Complete your blending kit

Rose Geranium is a floral middle note. These are the oils that ground it.

Zea Sweet Orange Essential Oil 10mL

Sweet Orange Essential Oil 10mL

Warm citrus under the rose. The grower's suggestion.

$14.95

Zea Cedarwood Essential Oil 10mL

Cedarwood Essential Oil 10mL

Soft wood to ground the floral.

$19.95

Zea Patchouli Essential Oil 10mL

Patchouli Essential Oil 10mL

Earthy depth. A classic with rose notes.

$24.95

Zea Kunzea Essential Oil 10mL

Kunzea Essential Oil 10mL

Foresty depth as an Australian counterpoint.

$24.95

Zea Frankincense Essential Oil 10mL

Frankincense Essential Oil 10mL

Resinous and calm beneath it.

$32.95

Zea Unscented Massage Carrier Oil 100mL

Unscented Massage Carrier Oil 100mL

Unscented base for diluting before any skin use.

$17.95

Single origin Australian essential oils since 2016

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Questions, answered

What is Rose Geranium Essential Oil?

A 100% pure essential oil, steam distilled from the aerial parts of Pelargonium roseum on Réunion Island. It is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis.

What does it smell like?

Rose floral notes over a sweet, green, herbaceous base. Similar to geranium but noticeably more rose-like.

How do I use it?

Start with 3 to 6 drops in a diffuser. For skin, dilute one or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and patch test first.

Is it the same as rose oil?

No. Rose otto is Rosa damascena, distilled from petals, and it is one of the most expensive oils there is. Rose Geranium shares two of rose's signature molecules, geraniol and citronellol, which is why it reads as rose-adjacent, but it is its own oil with a green herbaceous edge rose does not have.

Is it a geranium?

Not botanically. It is a pelargonium. True geraniums are a different genus and are not used for essential oil.

Can I put it straight on my skin?

No. Never apply an undiluted essential oil and never take one internally. Dilute in a carrier oil first, and patch test.

Is it tested?

Yes. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis, which is how the specifications on this page are established.

Is it safe around children and pets?

Keep it out of reach of children and never apply it undiluted. Diffuse in a ventilated room rather than a closed space. Check with your vet before diffusing around pets.

How should I store it?

Below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap on firmly. The lighter constituents are always the first to escape.

How do the pack savings work?

Choose your pack above and the discount applies automatically at checkout. No code needed: 5% off 3 or more, 10% off 5 or more eligible Zea products.

What does shipping cost?

Free on Australian orders over $75. Orders are dispatched from our Australian warehouse.

Zea Rose Geranium Essential Oil 10mL

Rose notes, without the rose price.

Free shipping on Australian orders over $75 · 100% pure · GC/MS tested · Réunion Island. Choose your pack and we will get it on its way.

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Rose Geranium Essential Oil is an aromatherapy product for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always dilute before use and follow the label directions. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents, not to an outcome from using this product. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

Rose Geranium Essential Oil Rose Geranium Oil 10mL