Geraniol

Geraniol, also called rhodinol, is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. It is the primary part of oil-of-rose, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil (Java type). It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, and many other essential oils. It appears as a clear to pale-yellow oil which is insoluble in water, but soluble in most common organic solvents. It has a rose-like odor, for which it is commonly used in perfumes. It is used in flavors such as peach, raspberry, grapefruit, red apple, plum, lime, orange, lemon, watermelon, pineapple and blueberry.

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Research has shown geraniol to be an effective plant based insect repellent.^[1][2]

On the other hand, it is also produced by the scent glands of honey bees to help them mark nectar-bearing flowers and locate the entrances to their hives.

In a 1994 report released by five top cigarette companies, geraniol is listed as one of the 599 additives to cigarettes, to improve their flavor.[1] Geraniol and other flavor compounds are found naturally in well aged tobacco.

The functional group based on geraniol (essentially geraniol lacking the terminal -OH) is called geranyl. It is important in biosynthesis of terpenes. In acidic solutions, geraniol is converted to the cyclic terpene alpha-terpineol.

Health and safety information

Geraniol should be avoided by people with perfume allergy^[3].

References

1. ^ Barnard, D.R., and Xue, R. Laboratory evaluation of mosquito repellents against Aedes albopictus, Culex nigripalpus, and Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae), J. Med. Entomol. 41(4):726-730, 2004.
2. ^ Univ. of Florida. 1999. UF entomologist develops safe, effective alternative to DEET insect repellents. http://www.napa.ufl.edu/99news/nodeet.htm
3. ^ Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in massage oils

See also

• Citral - the corresponding aldehyde
• Nerol - the double bond isomer