An aromatic note often likened to the oh-so-sweet scent of rose. However, distinct facets of bright lemon and undertones of sharp green give the geranium its distinctly unique profile. Geranium is popularly used in fougère and rose accords, adding a characteristically sharp, vibrant tang to a range of fragrances.
The geranium originates from South Africa, where it grows wild in deep shades of purple and red. The flower can also be found in Egypt, Morocco and China, as well as on the dense, tropical island of La Réunion. Its velvety leaves are coated in glandular hairs containing the lusciously fragrant essential oil, which must be extracted through steam distillation before the flowers have had the chance to blossom. This extraction process is sometimes performed using volatile solvents to obtain an absolute.
Thought to resemble the appearance of a crane’s bill, the fragrant geranium flower derives its name from the Greek “geranos”, meaning “crane.” Beyond its aromatic qualities, the geranium is prized for its unique therapeutic properties as a tonic, antidepressant and antiseptic. It is also particularly effective at healing and is known to ease digestion, reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system and improve kidney, skin and hair health.
People's Republic of China, Egypt, Morocco, Reunion
Paul Parquet first used coumarin in 1882 in his creation: Fougère Royale. The success was immense and he thus invented a new olfactory family: Fougère, by combining coumarin with lavender, geranium, oakmoss and bergamot.
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