← the glossary

Geraniol

AllowedReviewed September 18, 2026

A floral-scented alcohol found in rose, geranium and citronella oils.

What it does

Scent

Our take

Like citronellol, an EU-declarable fragrance constituent that shows up on the labels of honestly scented natural products. Its presence is a sign the brand disclosed rather than hid behind the word fragrance. A recognised contact allergen at higher exposures.

Scope

A label cannot tell you whether this was extracted from a plant or built in a lab, because the molecule is identical either way. Seeing it named is a disclosure rather than a warning: it is what an honestly labelled, essential-oil-scented product looks like, and the EU requires it to be named precisely so that the minority of people who react to it can avoid it.