Palmarosa: the grass that smells like roses. Essential oil, use and dilution

Palmarosa contains up to 94% geraniol, which is why it smells of rose. What to do with it, what to blend it with and how to dilute it safely.

In brief: Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) is an Indian grass related to citronella and lemongrass. Its oil contains 74–94% geraniol, so it smells of rose, only fresher and grassier. It is one of the best-tolerated floral oils: on the skin 1–2% is enough, in a diffuser 3–5 drops.

Latin name	Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Will. Watson var. motia, Poaceae (grass family)
Extraction	steam distillation of the above-ground parts of the grass (often pre-dried), yield 0.5–1.2%
Main components	geraniol 74–94%, geranyl acetate 5–20%, linalool 2–4%, nerol around 1%
Scent	rosy, fresh, green, with a slight lemony note
On the skin	usually 1–2% (2–4 drops per 10 ml), upper limit according to Tisserand and Young 6.5%
Safety	low risk of sensitisation, old oxidised oil irritates more

Palmarosa is the type of oil that surprises people: from a bottle with a picture of grass comes the scent of roses. The reason is geraniol, a scent alcohol that also makes up a large part of rose and geranium oil. Palmarosa has the most of it of all common oils.

In practice this means a cheap, stable and easily diluted rose scent for the diffuser, home cosmetics and summer blends. Below you will find how to use palmarosa, what to blend it with and what to watch out for. The oil we are writing about is our BIO Palmarosa essential oil 10 ml from organic farming in India.

Why a grass smells like a rose

The genus Cymbopogon includes several aromatic grasses, and each has a different "main" scent alcohol or aldehyde. Lemongrass rests on citral, citronella on citronellal and geraniol, palmarosa almost only on geraniol. That is why it is the gentlest and most floral of the whole family.

Oil	Main scent compounds	Scent	On the skin	Price
Palmarosa	geraniol 74–94%	rose + grass	1–2%, max. 6.5%	low
Geranium	citronellol, geraniol, linalool	rose + green leaf	1–2%	medium
Rose (otto)	citronellol, geraniol, nonadecane	full rose, honey	max. 0.6%	very high
Citronella	citronellal, geraniol, citronellol	lemony, "repellent"	up to 2%	low

Palmarosa was historically exported via Turkey and used to "stretch" expensive rose oil, hence its old trade name "Turkish geranium".

What to blend palmarosa with

Floral oils: geranium and ylang ylang (1 drop per 3–4 drops of palmarosa).
Calming: lavender, bergamot.
Woody: Himalayan cedar gives palmarosa a "masculine" character.
Summery: citronella, lemongrass, grapefruit.

How to use palmarosa

Diffuser and aroma lamp

For a small room 2–3 drops, for a medium one 3–5 drops. Guide values for different types of device can be found in the article how many drops of essential oil to put in a diffuser and aroma lamp.

Fresh morning: 3 drops of palmarosa, 2 drops of bergamot, 1 drop of grapefruit.
Evening: 3 drops of palmarosa, 2 drops of lavender, 1 drop of Himalayan cedar.
Terrace (aroma lamp outdoors): 3 drops of palmarosa, 2 drops of citronella, 1 drop of lemongrass.

Geraniol is among the substances studied as repellents. An aroma lamp, however, protects only in the immediate surroundings; more in the article natural protection against mosquitoes.

Dilution on the skin

Use	Dilution	10 ml of carrier	30 ml of carrier
face, sensitive skin	0.5–1%	1–2 drops	3–6 drops
body oil, massage	1–2%	2–4 drops	6–12 drops
locally on a small area (adults)	up to 3%	6 drops	–
bath	–	4–5 drops in a tablespoon of carrier oil

We count 1 ml = about 20 drops. The upper limit of 6.5% from Tisserand and Young is derived from the geraniol content; you do not need it for everyday care, and you would only needlessly raise the risk of irritation.

Body oil (30 ml, 2%)

Pour 30 ml of jojoba oil into a dark bottle.
Add 6 drops of palmarosa, 3 drops of geranium and 3 drops of lavender.
Shake and test a drop on the forearm (24 hours).
Use after a bath, use up within 3 months.

Face oil (10 ml, 1%)

10 ml of jojoba and 2 drops of palmarosa. Jojoba is close in composition to skin sebum and also suits combination skin; more about it in the article essential oils for the skin and choosing a carrier oil.

Traditional use and research

In India palmarosa has been grown and distilled for centuries, and in Ayurveda the grass is traditionally used on the skin and for fevers; we write about the Indian tradition of scented oils in the article Indian aromatherapy. In perfumery it is popular for soaps and natural deodorants.

Laboratory studies show that palmarosa oil and geraniol alone slow the growth of a number of bacteria in a test tube, including strains from skin infections. This explains why palmarosa appears in recipes for the care of problem skin. Clinical evidence that the oil helps against acne or other skin problems is, however, still lacking.

Safety

Skin: low risk of sensitisation. Geraniol and linalool are, however, allergens in the EU that must be listed in the composition of cosmetics, and oxidised oil irritates more. Store the closed bottle in a cool place, and do not use an old oil that has changed scent on the skin.
Children: nothing under 3 months, in a diffuser from 6 months 1 drop and briefly, on the skin under 2 years max. 0.5%, 2–6 years 0.5–1%. Details in the article essential oils and children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Tisserand and Young do not forbid palmarosa in pregnancy. We recommend 1% at most on the skin, in the first trimester only a diffuser, and always consulting a doctor.
Cats: geraniol is one of the substances for which the ASPCA lists geranium among plants poisonous to cats and dogs. Do not diffuse palmarosa in a room the cat cannot leave.
Internally: no.
Storage: dark glass, a cool place, use up within 2 years of opening.

How to recognise a quality palmarosa

The label says Cymbopogon martinii, ideally var. motia. The variety sofia gives a different oil, "gingergrass".
Country of origin: India, possibly Nepal, Indonesia, Brazil.
The oil is pale yellow, thin, and smells rosy with a green trace. A purely lemony scent points to confusion with another grass.

Frequently asked questions

What is palmarosa oil used for?

For scenting a space, in body and face oils, home deodorants and summer blends for the terrace. It is traditionally used in skin care.

Is palmarosa the same as citronella?

No. They are related grasses, but palmarosa smells of rose (geraniol), citronella of lemon (citronellal).

Does palmarosa really smell like a rose?

It is reminiscent of it, but is lighter, greener and less honeyed. In a blend with a drop of geranium or rose it comes very close.

Does palmarosa help with acne?

In the laboratory it acts against bacteria; this is not proven in people. If you want to try it in a face oil, stay at 0.5–1% and do a tolerance test.

Does palmarosa repel mosquitoes?

Geraniol repels insects, but in an aroma lamp on the terrace only in the surroundings and briefly. Where there is a risk of diseases carried by mosquitoes, use a registered repellent.

Sources

Updated: 27 September 2026

Author: Jana Vránová, the editorial pen name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage information from specialist literature and official sources, which we cite in every article.