# Palmarosa essential oil

> Palmarosa is a rosy, grassy single oil in the lemongrass family, valued topically for supporting healthy-looking, hydrated skin.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/palmarosa

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Cymbopogon martinii
- **Plant part:** Grass
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Sweet, rosy, green
- **Origin:** India
- **Blends with:** Citrus, rose

## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate)

Based on 13 GC-MS samples from 5 peer-reviewed papers (2018–2026); Moderate evidence base. 57 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range):

| Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| geraniol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 50.66 | 34.86–66.45 | 82.25 | 2 |
| geranial | Oxygenated monoterpene | 7.62 | 4.01–11.23 | 14.84 | 2 |
| carveol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 7.5 | 5.96–9.04 | 10.59 | 2 |
| geranyl acetate | Oxygenated monoterpene | 7.3 | 6.06–8.55 | 9.8 | 2 |
| trans-piperitol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 6.82 | 6.73–6.91 | 7 | 2 |
| limonene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 3.05 | 2.38–3.45 | 3.85 | 3 |
| myrcene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 2.02 | 1.09–2.88 | 3.58 | 4 |
| carvone | Oxygenated monoterpene | 4 | 3.68–4.32 | 4.64 | 2 |
| linalool | Oxygenated monoterpene | 2.53 | 2.27–2.56 | 2.6 | 3 |
| cis-dihydrocarvone | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.65 | 1.09–2.21 | 2.77 | 2 |
| γ-terpinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 0.9 | 0.61–1.18 | 1.47 | 2 |
| (e)-β-ocimene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 0.55 | 0.38–4.08 | 7.62 | 3 |

Chemotypes seen in the samples: geraniol a,b,c (54% of samples), geraniol (23% of samples), cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (8% of samples), cis-piperitol (8% of samples), trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (8% of samples).

## Key constituents

- **Geraniol** (75-85%) — The overwhelmingly dominant compound, giving palmarosa its rosy, sweet-floral character
- **Geranyl acetate** (5-15%) — An ester that adds a fruity-sweet nuance to the rose-like scent

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** 3–5 drops gives a bright, uplifting floral-green scent that pairs well with citrus or rose.
- **On skin:** Dilute to 2–4% in a carrier oil — common in facial skin-care blends.

## Safety

- Patch-test before regular use, as with any new topical oil, and dilute in a carrier oil.
- Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin.
- Generally gentle and well tolerated; it's very high in geraniol, a recognised fragrance allergen, so patch-test if sensitive.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- Palmarosa oil and its dominant constituent geraniol have been studied for antibacterial activity in the laboratory. These are in-vitro findings, not evidence it treats infections in people. — Pharmaceutics study (2025) (https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010039)

## Evidence

- Palmarosa is one of the richest natural sources of geraniol, typically making up around 75–85% of the oil — the basis of both its rosy aroma and its studied antibacterial activity. — Pharmaceutics study (2025) (https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010039)

## Frequently asked questions

### Why does palmarosa smell like roses if it's a grass?

Palmarosa is extremely high in geraniol, the same rose-scented alcohol found in rose and geranium oils. That's why a grass can smell so floral — and why it's sometimes used to extend or imitate rose.

### Is palmarosa safe on skin?

Yes, when diluted — it's a gentle, popular skincare oil. Because it's so high in geraniol (a recognised allergen), patch-test first if your skin reacts easily.

### Is palmarosa phototoxic?

No — palmarosa isn't phototoxic, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. Just dilute it for topical use as usual.

## Sources (GC-MS studies)

- Romero AK, Portillo DJ, Beltrán SB, Sierra LJ, Álvarez CA, Ramírez KJ, Martínez JR, Stashenko EE. Enhanced Two-Step Extraction from Biomass of Two Cymbopogon Species Cultivated in Santander, Colombia. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10488661
- Sonigra P, Meena M. Influence of growth stage on the chemical composition, antimicrobial, and antioxidant potential of <i>Cymbopogon martinii</i> (Roxb.) Wats. essential oil. _Frontiers in plant science_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12463950
- Dangol S, Poudel DK, Ojha PK, Maharjan S, Poudel A, Satyal R, Rokaya A, Timsina S, Dosoky NS, Satyal P, Setzer WN. Essential Oil Composition Analysis of Cymbopogon Species from Eastern Nepal by GC-MS and Chiral GC-MS, and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Major Compounds. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9863348
- Sonigra P, Meena M, Yadav G. Exploring the cellular and ultrastructural impact of Cymbopogon martinii essential oil against postharvest fungal pathogens of papaya. _Scientific reports_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13334039
- Kalagatur NK, Nirmal Ghosh OS, Sundararaj N, Mudili V. Antifungal Activity of Chitosan Nanoparticles Encapsulated With Cymbopogon martinii Essential Oil on Plant Pathogenic Fungi Fusarium graminearum. _Frontiers in pharmacology_, 2018. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC5997812

_Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._