Cymbopogon martini aka Anthropogon martini, Wats var. martini, East Indian geranium, steam distilled from the fresh or dried grass in India.
Aroma: A middle note with a middle aroma, Palmarosa Essential Oil has a sharp, floral note with a hint of rose.
Description: Palmarosa is a wild growing plant related to lemongrass. It has fragrant leaves, long slender stems and terminal flowering tops. It originates from India but is now cultivated in various other countries.
Characteristics: A pale yellow or olive coloured essential oil that has a sweet, floral, slightly dry fragrance with a herbaceous undertone and a hint of rose.
Constituents: Geraniol (72-86%), linalool (2-4%), limonene (trace-0.5%), geranyl acetate (5-11%), farnesol (0.3-1.5%).
Common Uses: Antiseptic, bactericidal, cytophylactic, febrifuge, hydrating, tonic to the digestive system.Palmarosa is used widely in perfumery and soap making for rose- and geranium-like scents. It has a calming and uplifting effect on the emotions as well as a hydrating effect on the skin. Palmarosa is used to stimulate cellular regeneration, helping decrease acne, scars, dermatitis, and wrinkles.
Traditionally, Palmarosa has been used to treat anorexia, nervous exhaustion, stress, and for normalizing intestinal flora. It is often used to adulterate expensive rose oils.
Blends well with Citronella, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lime, neroli, orange, petitgrain, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang.
Safety: Non-toxic, non-irritant. Maybe sensitizing to some individuals. Dilutions of 8% are recommended for topical use.
Photo thanks to Agasthiar1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
