Scented Leaves & Velvet Petals: A Geranium Journey
Legend has it that geraniums first grew where the prophet Mohammed hung his shirt to dry in the sun (nice to learn that even prophets do their own washing – and take delight in a ‘good drying day’, just as we do!) And there are many other myths linked with geranium: they’re said to grow in pots near witches’ cottages, for instance (though we do not recommend idly passing on that fact to touchy relatives…)
We adore how versatile geranium can be as a note for perfumers to play with in their compositions, and as you can see from this curated patch of geranium perfumes we’ve picked for you: geranium scents can vary from ultra soothing and nostalgic, to utterly contemporary, with many an olfactive surprise to be found even from this note you may feel you know so well. Let’s dig in!
Geraniums exist in a great number of varieties, but in most varieties of geranium, the flowers have no scent. The scent molecules are contained in the leaves. For many of us, geranium has an incredibly nostalgic scent: the scent of a grandmother’s greenhouse, rubbing a furry-leaved plant between our fingertips. In fact, there are hundreds of species of geranium, with scents that conjure up many other plants: lemon, apple, lime, mint, orange, rose, citronella, camphor, pineapple, sage and more. The leaves and stems can be steam-distilled to produce oils, then, with quite different characters, depending on the variety.
Mostly, the type used in perfumery is Pelargonium graveolens or more commonly called the ‘rose geranium’: it gives a scent that’s similar to rose, but with a lemony twist, and less of the powderiness. The most prized geranium of all comes from the Ile Bourbon, with its rich, green, fruity-mint rosiness. With such complexity, in a single ingredient, no wonder many perfumers love it. But it’s also grown in Algiers, Morocco, and in Grasse, among other perfumery ingredient places.
Jo Fairley – editor of The Scented Letter magazine – has written a gloriously evocative feature, The Scented Greenhouse, on the nostalgic scent of geraniums in the just-published The Language of Flowers summer edition of our multi award-winning publication, where you can read all about an extraordinary project she was part of, in collaboration with C.Atherley (Cath Kidston’s new fragrant venture, inspired by being ‘wild about geraniums’) and The Chelsea Flower Show. So, do buy the gorgeous print edition to bury your nose in, or make sure you are signed up to receive a FREE copy of the digital edition in your inbox!
But for now, let us explore the fuzzy-leafed fragrances below, and delight in the scent of geraniums all over again…
Floris Ledger Series Rose Geranium
A poised waltz of classicism and quiet daring, this composition unfurls with the silken touch of geranium – its verdant, lemon-tinged brightness weaving through a tapestry of rose and palmarosa. The note is not content to simply echo rose’s familiar refrain, but instead pirouettes with a citrusy vivacity, buoyed by citronella and the gentle caress of rosewood. A cedarwood base anchors the airy floral heart, imparting a subtle, woody warmth that lingers like the memory of laughter in a sunlit conservatory. Here, geranium is the green thread that binds nostalgia to elegance, whispering of gardens both real and remembered.
£220 for 100ml eau de parfum florislondon.com
Diptyque Geranium Oderata
A study in contrasts, this scent is a crisp boutonnière pressed against the skin – geranium at its heart, radiating a cool, almost minty clarity that shimmers with a touch of spice. Cardamom and pink pepper flicker around the edges, while tonka bean and vetiver lend an earthy, grounding undertone. The effect is both tailored and tender, as if a fresh-cut stem were slipped into a silk lapel. In this olfactory portrait, geranium is the pulse of green running beneath the surface, a breath of garden air in the midst of urban sophistication.
£135 for 100ml eau de toilette selfridges.com
Maison Martin Margiela From the Garden
Sun-drenched and brimming with life, this fragrance captures the tactile joy of hands plunged into loamy earth. The dewiness of tomato leaf and green mandarin sparkles at the outset, but it is the geranium – lush and leafy, humming with a gentle bitterness – that conjures the soul of a summer garden. Patchouli’s earthiness grounds the composition, echoing the quiet satisfaction of a day spent among growing things. Here, geranium is the heartbeat of the garden, green and alive, a fragrant memory pressed between the pages of time.
£62 for 30ml eau de toilette spacenk.com
Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme Le Parfum Intense
Swagger and sensuality collide in a bold, intoxicating statement where geranium bursts forth in the opening – sharp, aromatic, and bracing as a bell. This green, almost metallic freshness is swiftly enveloped by the creamy richness of tonka bean, while sandalwood smoulders in the base, adding a sultry, velvety depth. The interplay is electric, a dance of cool and heat, with geranium providing the initial spark that ignites the senses, leaving a trail of intrigue and irresistible magnetism.
£81 for 50ml eau de parfum intense theperfumeshop.com
Frederic Malle Geranium Pour Monsieur
A modern ode to classic refinement, this fragrance is a masterclass in balance. Geranium – cool, green, and exhilarating – is elevated by the icy brightness of mint and the subtle sweetness of rhodinol. Spices of clove and cinnamon add a sophisticated warmth, while sandalwood and white musk create a silken, lingering finish. The composition is both invigorating and serene, a fresh breeze through open windows on a spring morning. In this creation, geranium is the architect of clarity, sculpting an aura of effortless elegance and contemporary poise.
£255 for 100ml eau de parfum harrods.com
Written by Suzy Nightingale