Perfume2000
Volume 4, Number 2, February 1999

Geranium oil

Geranium Pelagonium Grave-olens is grown in four main regions: China, Egypt, North Africa and the ex French colonies in the Comores and Reunion Islands of the Indian Ocean. There is a production in a number of other areas but these are on a much smaller scale and do not figure prominently in the global consumption picture. It belongs to the same family as the red flower plant that is seen in pots and flower boxes around the world (but nowhere near as nice as the Swiss Chalets we have on our calendars!!)

The oil is distilled from the above ground parts of the plant, primarily the leaves. With major constituents such as geraniol, linalool and citronellol, it produces a musty rose-type aroma, although, like most essential oils, the oil produced from the same plants can vary from growing region to growing region.

For many decades, the Bourbon-type geranium oil produced in the Indian Ocean was deemed to be the best. Even today, perfumers with experience will wax eloquently on the superiority of this type. The problem is that with accountant-types (somewhat oily, with a distinctly musty and weedy note) now run most companies. From such lofty heights the order was, and remains, "reduce costs!" Egyptian oil was the next choice, but, when short crops moved prices to their own lofty heights, Chinese oil which had been introduced into Yunnan province in the 1940's began to emerge on the market. In most consuming countries, Chinese and Egyptian vie, year-to-year, for the top slot.

Naturally, France is the starting point to look at geranium oil and, although actual distillation is minimal these days, exports from there were 79 tons in 1997 and 86 tons to December 1998 (from imports of 110 tons and 33 tons respectively)

As brokers, we always anxiously await the issuance of the yearly U.S. Government import and export statistics for essential oils because we can then see how much business we missed. After recuperating from the shock and angst, we begin to look more objectively, and apply strategic management principals - such as Kaizen - to dissect figures (we also know Seiri, Seiton, Seiso,Seiketsu and Shitsuke but mainly use these techniques to fix the constaantly blocked sink in our office). It finally becomes very entertaining reading and provides a platform for the impossible sales goals we set for ourselves until the next set of figures are released.

We mention this as export and import statistics figured prominently in our research to prepare ths article on GERANIUM OIL.

As with Bergamot oil discussed in the last issue, we are unable to locate the US growing region of  Pelargonium Grave-olens, but this does not stop us from being significant exporters. (See Fig.2)

Fig 1.Major U.S. Supply Sources (in metric tons)

Fig 2. - Major U.S. Export Markets (in metric tons)

However, the primary supplying countries are France, China & Egypt (the Comores/Reunion Island have the panache when it comes to Geranium oil, but little or nothing comes directly from these areas to the US (See Fig.1)

Usually, by far our biggest export market for this oil is the UK (Fig.2) but who would have believed that Latvia (yes, it's true -  Latvia) would have bought nearly 21 tons of Geranium oil from the USA in 1995?

Since this business never occured before, nor since, we have four possible explanations:

1. The Latvian user bought 21 years worth of stock to ensure a standardized quality.

2. The goods were shipped to Latvia but then secretly transshipped to Lithuania.

3. the goods were misdeclared and were actually Patchouli oil.

4. The US Department of Commerce confused Latvia with Japan.

We would like to take this opportunity, while we have your attention, to get a little more serious and give a quick overview of the recent past and current market. Over the last 12-18 months, pricing for Geranium oil from all origins has been very stable and we have not seen any real lack of supply to aggravate the pricing. However, in just recent weeks, after what we call a long "sleepy period", the market seems to be interested in this oil. This may be due to users finally having to restock after many months of working off existing inventory. This would usually bring about a slight firming tone and as of a few weeks ago (by the time we go to press) we have seen some increases in pricing at origin in Egypt and China.

Until next time, steer clear of the accountants and keep the natural oils flowing into your formulas - even essential oils brokers have to make a living and we depend on you!

The Cookson Team