Geraniol (Acyclic Monoterpenol · Antimicrobial · Neuroprotective · Insect Repellent)

Compound	Geraniol
Chemical class	Terpenoid — Acyclic Monoterpenol
CAS	106-24-1
Primary source	Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium), Rosa spp. (rose), Cymbopogon nardus (citronella)
Key applications	Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, insect repellent, fragrance
Claim strength	Moderate
Typical form	Rose geranium oil (20–35% geraniol); geraniol isolate; palmarosa oil (75–90% geraniol)
Buy from Herbuno	Request availability and bulk pricing →

Name origin: From Pelargonium graveolens (geranium), one of the primary commercial sources. Geraniol is an acyclic monoterpenol — the unsaturated form of citronellol, with a double bond at C-2. It is the primary floral constituent of rose and geranium essential oils and the most important acyclic monoterpene alcohol commercially. Traditional use: Rose preparations (Gulab in Hindi/Urdu) have extensive use across Persian, Ayurvedic, and Islamic medicine for mood elevation, skin care, GI complaints, and as a general tonic. Geranium preparations have European traditional use for wound healing and anti-inflammatory applications. Research trajectory: Geraniol has documented broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory mechanisms (NF-κB inhibition), neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s animal models, insect repellent activity, and anti-tumour preclinical data. It is one of the most commercially important fragrance compounds globally. Commercial source: Not currently available as a standalone extract at commercial supplement scale from Herbuno. Contact Herbuno for availability assessment.

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Evidence for Geraniol Applications

Antimicrobial: Geraniol demonstrates MIC values of 0.1–2 mg/mL against S. aureus (including MRSA), E. coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus species. Mechanism: cell membrane disruption via integration into the lipid bilayer, similar to other monoterpenols. Synergy with antibiotics (reducing MIC values) is documented. Claim strength: Moderate.

Neuroprotective: Geraniol reduces amyloid-beta accumulation, inhibits AChE, and reduces neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s animal models. In Parkinson’s models, geraniol protects dopaminergic neurons via Nrf2 activation and mitochondrial protection. Claim strength: Moderate (animal data).

Insect repellent: Geraniol is an effective repellent against mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Anopheles spp.), ticks, and mites. Palmarosa oil (75–90% geraniol) is used in natural insect repellent formulations. Repellent duration is shorter than DEET but comparable to citronellol at equivalent concentrations. Claim strength: Moderate.

Anti-inflammatory: Inhibits NF-κB, COX-2, and reduces prostaglandin E2. In vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy in arthritis and colitis animal models is documented. Claim strength: Moderate.

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Dosage & Formulator Specification

No established human supplement dose for geraniol. Palmarosa oil (75–90% geraniol) is available and represents the most geraniol-concentrated natural source for commercial extraction. Rose geranium oil (20–35% geraniol) is the standard fragrance source. Insect repellent topical: geraniol at 5–10% in lotion or spray base. Anti-inflammatory topical: geraniol at 0.5–2% in cream base. Geraniol is a known EU Cosmetics Regulation fragrance allergen — mandatory declaration above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products. Contact Herbuno for geraniol availability and specification.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Geraniol

Is geraniol related to citronellol?
Yes — geraniol and citronellol are biosynthetically related acyclic monoterpenols. Geraniol is the primary allylic alcohol (one double bond); citronellol is the corresponding saturated form (double bond reduced). In plants, geraniol is synthesised first and converted to citronellol by an NADPH-dependent reductase. They co-occur in rose geranium oil and share similar floral, rosy fragrance character. Geraniol has slightly stronger antimicrobial activity; citronellol has better stability due to the absence of the reactive double bond.

What is palmarosa and why is it the best geraniol source?
Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) is a tropical grass in the lemongrass family that produces an essential oil with 75–90% geraniol content — the highest geraniol concentration of any commercially available essential oil. It provides a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to rose and rose geranium for geraniol extraction. Palmarosa is widely cultivated in India, Brazil, and Central America. For commercial geraniol extraction at scale, palmarosa oil is the most economically viable natural source.

Is geraniol safe as a fragrance allergen?
Geraniol is listed as a mandatory EU fragrance allergen requiring declaration above threshold concentrations (0.001% in leave-on, 0.01% in rinse-off products). Like citronellol, this indicates a disclosure requirement for susceptible individuals, not a prohibition for general use. Geraniol is well-tolerated in the vast majority of consumers at typical fragrance use concentrations. For cosmetic formulations, include geraniol in the allergen ingredient declaration and consider “fragrance-free” claims carefully if geraniol is present.

Can geraniol be used in oral care formulations?
Yes. Geraniol’s broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens (including S. mutans and C. albicans) and pleasant floral-rose aroma make it appropriate for oral care formulations (mouthwash, toothpaste) as a natural antimicrobial active with flavouring benefit. At typical oral care concentrations (0.05–0.2% in finished product), geraniol provides antimicrobial benefit within fragrance-level concentration ranges.

Related compounds: Citronellol, Linalool, Bisabolol, Nerolidol

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Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.

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