Geranium oil |

Last updated: 25/08/2025
|
 |
(Also known as: oil of geranium; oil of pelargonium; zradvetz oil; pelargonium graveolens oil) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
  |
  |
|
|
An essential oil primarily derived primarily from the rose geranium plant, It is mainly used for fragrance and flavouring but also used for broad-spectrum pest control in conjunction with other essential oils |
|
Mosquito Anopheles albimanus ; Sweet potato white fly Bemisia tabaci; Spider mites, Storage insect pests e.g. Sitophilus oryzae,/i>; Aspergillus fumigatus |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Geraniales; Family: Geraniaceae |
|
Not approved |
|
Not applicable |
|
No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
|
Not approved |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
|
|
ISIceland |
NONorway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
|
|
Geranium oil contains a variety of terpenoid compounds, many of which exist in isomeric forms. Key examples include the structural isomers geraniol and nerol and citronellol which exists as stereoisomers ((+)-citronellol and (–)-citronellol. |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
No |
|
Insecticide; Fungicide; Herbicide; Rodenticide; Semiochemical |
|
Antimicrobial |
|
Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Natural; Complex mixture |
|
Non-toxic mode of action. Odorant repellent/attractant |
|
Derived from rose geranium plant Pelargonium graveolens, but may be extracted from other plants in the genera Geranium and Pelargonium. |
|
Crop protection; Public health |
|
Mosquito Anopheles albimanus ; Sweet potato white fly Bemisia tabaci; Spider mites, Storage insect pests e.g. Sitophilus oryzae,/i>; Aspergillus fumigatus |
|
- |
|
- |
|
800-46-2 |
|
616-774-3 |
|
- |
|
597500 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
geranium oil |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
FEMA=2508; FLAVIS=16.043; USEPA minimum risk pesticide |
|
- |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
- |
|
Colourless to pale green liquid with a sweet odour. It is a complex mixture of citronellol (~30-40%), geranoil (15-25%, linalool (<10%) and other organic alcohols and esters. |
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
late 20th century, informal use recorded |
|
- Albert Vieille
- Clive Teubes Ltd.
- Xian Sonwu Biotech Co., Ltd., China
|
|
|
|
Typical formulations include aerosol repellents and other ready-to-use products |
|
Commercial production of geranium oil involves cultivating Pelargonium graveolens. Once the plant is mature, the leaves and stems are harvested and subjected to steam distillation, the preferred method for extracting the essential oil. This process captures volatile compounds such as citronellol and geraniol. After distillation, the oil is filtered, tested for quality, and packaged for use. |
|
Data for specific plant oils is scarce. However, from publicly available data the carbon footprint of plant oils has been estimated at between 1.0 and 4.0 kg CO₂e per kg of oil. This depends on the plant oil content, agricultural practices and processing methods used. |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
64 |
(closed cup) |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
0.900 |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
30 |
|
Moderately persistent |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
|
- |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
|
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
|
|
|
|
|
> 5000 |
Rat |
Low |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
> 5000 |
Rat |
Low |
|
2000 |
Rabbit |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Carcinogen |
|
Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
No data found |
No data found |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
?Possibly, status not identified |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
  |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
  |
|
|
Mild relaxant when inhaled at low doses Toxic at very high doses Demonstrates anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties |
|
|
|
May form explosive mixtures in air Combustible Incompatible with strong oxidisng agents, strong bases and acids |
|
Handling: H227 Health: H304, H312, H318, H317 Environment: H411 |
|
Not listed (Not listed) |
|
Not regulated |
|
Packaging group III (minor danger) |
|
Stable when stored under standard conditions |
|
|
|
geranium oil |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
Record last updated: |
25/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |