- Derived from: geranium
- Pronunciation: (\jə-ˈrā-nē-ˌȯl\)
- Type: Natural
What Is Geraniol?
Geraniol is a colorless or pale yellow oily liquid with a sweet rose scent. It is derived from various essential oils, such as rose oil or citronella oil, and it is the principal constituent of geranium oil.[1,2,3]
What Does Geraniol Do in Our products?
Geraniol is often used in peach, raspberry, plum, and other flavors, but in our products it gives things a fresh, natural scent. It is often found in styling gel, moisturizer, hair conditioner, sunscreen, hairspray, shampoo, makeup, and other items.[4,5] It does not dissolve in water.[6]
Why Puracy Uses Geraniol
We use geraniol in several of our products as a fragrance. It is a better alternative to synthetic perfumes and phthalates. In addition, geraniol is on the EPA’s list of pesticides exempt from regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.[10] The FDA has deemed the ingredient generally recognized as safe (GRAS), and Whole Foods deems it acceptable in its body care and cleaning products.[11,12]
How Geraniol Is Made
Geraniol production typically begins by chopping up the leaves and stems of the geranium plant or other biomass containing the required essential oil. The mass is then placed in distillation machinery that pushes steam or water through the plant material. The oil and other components rise and are funneled into a condenser, which cools the vapor to liquid. The oil floats on the water, where it is siphoned off.[7,8] The geraniol is then isolated by distilling the oil under pressure and then heating the fraction that distills between 120 and 130 degrees Farenheit using an autoclave with acetic anhydride. The resulting esters are fractionated, distilled, and saponified, which separates out the geraniol.[9]
Certifications
Sources
[1] U.S. National Library of Medicine
[2] Environmental Working Group
[3] Allen, A. (1907) Commercial Organic Analysis. J & A Churchill.
[4] Environmental Working Group
[5] Cosmeticsinfo.org
[6] Cosmeticsinfo.org
[7]Carmen, G. and Hancu, G. "Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activity of Pelargonium roseum Essential Oils." Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2014 Dec; 4(Suppl 2): 511–514
[8] National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
[9] Allen, A. (1907) Commercial Organic Analysis. J & A Churchill
[10] Environmental Protection Agency
[11] Food and Drug Administration
[12] Whole Foods Market
