Geraniol is a sweet, rose-scented terpene alcohol found in rose oil, palmarosa, citronella, lemongrass and some cannabis plants. Chemically it is a monoterpene alcohol with the formula C₁₀H₁₈O. It is one of the most widely used fragrance ingredients, and it can cause skin allergy in some people, especially once it has oxidised.
Key facts
- Chemical class
- Monoterpene alcohol (monoterpenoid), C₁₀H₁₈O
- Smell
- Sweet, rose-like and geranium-like
- Found in
- Rose oil and palmarosa oil (main component), citronella, lemongrass; some cannabis
- Main use
- Fragrance ingredient in perfumes, soaps and cosmetics
- Skin
- Part of the fragrance mix used in patch tests; oxidised geraniol is a stronger sensitiser
- Research in people (as of October 2026)
- Mainly patch-test (allergy) studies; other work is in the lab
What is geraniol?
Geraniol is a terpene, one of the aromatic compounds that give plants their smell. More precisely it is a monoterpenoid: two five-carbon units with an alcohol (hydroxy) group at one end, which gives the formula C₁₀H₁₈O. PubChem lists its roles as a volatile oil component, a fragrance, an allergen and a plant metabolite. For terpenes in general, see what are terpenes?
Where is geraniol found?
Geraniol is the main component of rose oil and palmarosa oil, and it occurs in citronella, lemongrass and many other essential oils (PubChem). Commercially it is distilled from citronella and palmarosa oils or made from other terpenes such as myrcene and pinene. Its name comes from the geranium.
Is geraniol in cannabis and hemp?
In some plants. A study of cannabis terpene enzymes describes monoterpene alcohols such as linalool and geraniol as "common in some cannabis strains", while the hemp variety Finola contains few of them (Booth et al., 2017). Terpene profiles vary from plant to plant, so the only way to know how much geraniol a plant or extract contains is to test it (Booth and Bohlmann, 2019).
What does geraniol smell like?
Sweet and rose-like, with a pleasant geranium-like note (PubChem). It is one of the most frequently used fragrance materials: perfumers use it in rose-type compositions, and in small amounts to accentuate citrus notes.
| Terpene | Type | Formula | Typical smell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geraniol | Monoterpene alcohol | C₁₀H₁₈O | Rose, floral |
| Linalool | Monoterpene alcohol | C₁₀H₁₈O | Lavender, floral |
| Myrcene | Monoterpene | C₁₀H₁₆ | Earthy, musky |
Is geraniol safe on the skin?
Geraniol is a known fragrance allergen and is included in fragrance mix I, the standard patch-test mix for fragrance allergy. It reacts with oxygen in air and forms compounds that sensitise the skin more strongly. In a study of 1,476 patients referred for patch testing in Sweden, pure geraniol gave 1% positive reactions, while oxidised geraniol gave 3% to 8%, depending on the test concentration (Hagvall et al., 2018).
For products that contain terpenes, this is one reason to close the bottle after use and store it away from heat and light; see how long CBD oil lasts. If you know you react to fragrances, check the ingredient list.
What does research say about geraniol?
Outside allergy testing, geraniol has mostly been studied in the lab. It disrupted the cell membranes of Candida yeasts in culture (Sharma et al., 2016), and geraniol from lemongrass reduced inflammatory signals in cultured blood-vessel cells (Ben Ammar et al., 2022). These are cell studies; they don't show an effect in people. Geraniol is also sometimes linked to the entourage effect, but there is no direct evidence that it changes how cannabinoids act.
Is there geraniol in CBD oil?
Hemp extracts that keep the plant's terpenes can contain geraniol, depending on the variety; isolates and terpene-free extracts don't. Our guide full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate explains which extracts keep terpenes, and our oils are in the CBD oil collection.
From our production
We keep the hemp's natural terpenes in our oils. Many people underestimate terpenes and assume only the cannabinoids matter.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is geraniol?
Geraniol is a monoterpene alcohol (C₁₀H₁₈O) with a sweet, rose-like smell. It makes up much of rose oil and palmarosa oil, occurs in citronella and lemongrass oils, and is found in some cannabis plants.
What does geraniol smell like?
Sweet and floral, like roses, with a geranium-like note. Perfumers use it in rose-type fragrances and, in small amounts, to lift citrus notes.
Is geraniol in cannabis?
Yes, in some plants. Researchers describe geraniol and linalool as common in some cannabis strains, while the hemp variety Finola contains few of these terpene alcohols.
Is geraniol an allergen?
It can be. Geraniol is part of the fragrance mix used in skin patch tests. It oxidises in air, and in a Swedish multicentre study oxidised geraniol gave more positive patch-test reactions than pure geraniol.
What is the difference between geraniol and linalool?
Both are monoterpene alcohols with the formula C₁₀H₁₈O and floral smells. Geraniol smells of rose; linalool smells more of lavender. Both are common fragrance ingredients.
Does geraniol get you high?
No. Geraniol is a terpene, not a cannabinoid, and it does not cause intoxication.
Related guides
This article summarises published research. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin, and our pet oils are for external use. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. See our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- PubChem. Geraniol (CID 637566): description, odour, use and manufacturing. National Library of Medicine. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/637566
- Booth JK, Page JE, Bohlmann J. Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa. PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0173911. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173911
- Booth JK, Bohlmann J. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans. Plant Sci. 2019;284:67-72. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.022
- Hagvall L, Bruze M, Engfeldt M, et al. Contact allergy to oxidized geraniol among Swedish dermatitis patients: a multicentre study by the Swedish Contact Dermatitis Research Group. Contact Dermatitis. 2018;79(4):232-238. doi:10.1111/cod.13047
- Sharma Y, Khan LA, Manzoor N. Anti-Candida activity of geraniol involves disruption of cell membrane integrity and function. J Mycol Med. 2016;26:244-254. doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2016.04.004
- Ben Ammar R, Mohamed ME, Alfwuaires M, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of geraniol isolated from lemon grass on ox-LDL-stimulated endothelial cells. Nutrients. 2022;14(22):4817. doi:10.3390/nu14224817
