What does geraniol mean?
Geraniol is a versatile organic compound with a sweet, floral fragrance. It is used in perfumes, flavorings, and insect repellents due to its pleasant scent and natural occurrence in many plant essential oils. Geraniol is a terpene alcohol, a class of compounds found in the oils of many plants, including roses, lemongrass, and geraniums. Its widespread use in aromatherapy and perfumery is due to its calming effects and fragrant properties. Geraniol is also used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages, adding a subtle floral note to various products.
nounGeraniol is a colorless, fragrant liquid organic compound used in perfumes, flavorings, and insect repellents. It is a terpene alcohol found naturally in the essential oils of many plants.
- A terpene alcohol used in perfumes and flavorings
- A fragrant compound found in plant essential oils
"The fragrance of rose petals is partly due to the presence of geraniol."
"Geraniol is used in aromatherapy for its calming effects."
"The essential oil of lemongrass contains a high concentration of geraniol."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of geraniol
Geraniol is named after the geranium plant, from which it was first isolated. The term 'geraniol' is derived from 'geranium', a genus of plants in the family Geraniaceae. Geraniol is a terpene alcohol, related to other terpene compounds found in plant essential oils.
How geraniol is actually used
Geraniol is used in a variety of applications, including perfumery, flavorings, and insect repellents. It has a sweet, floral scent.