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Rhodinol in Perfumery | Première Peau

Q: Is Rhodinol natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fractional distillation of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens or P. roseum) essential oil. The geranium oil is itself steam-distilled from the leaves and stems of the plant. Rhodinol is isolated as a specific fraction — the 'rose alcohol' cut — that concentrates citronellol, geraniol, and nerol while removing the greener, mintier terpenes. The finest grades come from Bourbon geranium (Reunion Island) and Egyptian geranium. Rhodinol is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a strong, fresh, rosy odor..

FLOWERS / floral · woody · fruity

Rhodinol

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · woody · fruity
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	N/A — found in Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) and Rosa damascena (rose); also synthetic
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Bulgaria, Turkey
Pyramid	Heart

Rose distilled to its molecular essence. Rhodinol is a natural isolate — primarily citronellol and geraniol from geranium oil — that smells closer to fresh rose otto than any single synthetic can achieve.

Scent
Terroir & Origins
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery
See Also

Scent

Fresh, clean rosiness on first contact — immediately recognizable as rose, with a citronellol softness and a geraniol brightness. More natural-smelling than phenylethyl alcohol, more specifically rose than geraniol alone. A sweet nerol nuance adds delicacy. Less green than geranium oil, less honeyed than rose absolute, closer in spirit to the clean, dewy scent of a freshly opened Damascena rose. The dry-down is soft, warm, and persistently rosy.

Evolution over time

Immediately

After a few hours

After a few days

Terroir & Origins

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Rhodinol is the molecular soul of rose — not a single compound but a carefully isolated fraction of geranium essential oil that concentrates the three terpene alcohols most responsible for the smell of fresh roses: citronellol (62%), geraniol (35%), and nerol (1%). This combination comes closer to the scent of rose otto (steam-distilled Bulgarian or Turkish rose oil) than any individual synthetic molecule.

The isolate is obtained by fractional distillation of geranium (Pelargonium) oil, separating the 'rose alcohol' fraction from the greener, mintier terpenes that give geranium its characteristic leafy bite. The finest grades — Rhodinol ex Geranium Bourbon — come from Reunion Island geranium, historically prized for its exceptionally rosy profile.

In perfumery, rhodinol is the workhorse of rose accords. It provides a natural-smelling rosiness that phenylethyl alcohol (the standard rose synthetic) alone cannot achieve — PEA gives the 'fresh rose petal' impression but lacks the fuller, more complex character of the natural alcohol mixture. Rhodinol is also used in geranium reconstitutions, lily of the valley accords (where it provides the rosy facet), and citrus-floral compositions where a clean, natural-smelling floral body is needed.

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Geranium essential oil and rose otto share the same key molecules — citronellol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol — which is why geranium has been used as a rose substitute since the 19th century. The seasonal variation is striking: early-season geranium is richer in geraniol (greener, more geranium-like) while late-season geranium has more citronellol (rosier, softer). Rhodinol captures the late-season, rose-maximum chemistry.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fractional distillation of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens or P. roseum) essential oil. The geranium oil is itself steam-distilled from the leaves and stems of the plant. Rhodinol is isolated as a specific fraction — the 'rose alcohol' cut — that concentrates citronellol, geraniol, and nerol while removing the greener, mintier terpenes. The finest grades come from Bourbon geranium (Reunion Island) and Egyptian geranium. Rhodinol is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a strong, fresh, rosy odor.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	C₁₀H₂₀O
CAS Number	141-25-3
Botanical Name	N/A — found in Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) and Rosa damascena (rose); also synthetic
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	l-Citronellol, beta-Citronellol, (−)-Citronellol
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	236 hours at 100.00%
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	68.00 to 70.00 °C. @ 1.80 mm Hg
Flash Point	210.00 °F. TCC ( 98.89 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.86500 to 0.87300 @ 20.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.45800 to 1.46800 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point	-16.00 to -14.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

In Perfumery

Rhodinol is a natural isolate obtained by fractional distillation of geranium (Pelargonium) essential oil, typically containing approximately 62% citronellol, 35% geraniol, and 1% nerol. This mixture of rose alcohols comes closer to the scent of rose otto (steam-distilled rose oil) than any single molecule. Citronellol (CAS 106-22-9) provides the soft, rosy-fresh body; geraniol (CAS 106-24-1) adds the brighter, more geranium-like lift; nerol contributes a sweeter, more delicate floral nuance. In perfumery, rhodinol functions as the backbone of rose accords, providing a natural-smelling rosiness that is more convincing than pure phenylethyl alcohol (the 'classic' rose synthetic). It is used in rose, geranium, lily of the valley, and citrus-floral compositions. The 'Bourbon' designation (Rhodinol ex Geranium Bourbon) refers to geranium oil from Reunion Island, historically considered the finest quality. Relevant to ROSE MONOTONE (/products/rose-monotone-crystalline-lychee-perfume) for its rose-centered character.