Belonging to the same family as the Lemongrass and Citronella, and a very close relative of the Gingergrass, though Gingergrass is considered as an inferior oil, in parts of India - the two types of grass are distilled together. Palmarosa is also known as the East Indian Geranium. Palmarosa has a funny toast or yeast top note. This often leads buyers to reject the oil on odour. Rectified and adulterated oils can smell more attractive to the novice. Palmarosa oil soon dries out to the familiar rosy geraniol note.

It is a wild growing, herbaceous green and straw-colored grass, with long slender stems, terminal flowering tops and fragrant grassy leaves. It is harvested before the flowers appear and the highest yield is obtained when the grass is fully dried - about one week after it has been cut. With about 3 - 4 harvests per year, and averaging about 70 tonnes per year.

Blends well with : Bergamot, Cananga, Cedarwood, Clove, Coriander, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Guaiacwood, Juniper, Lemongrass, Lime, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood and  Ylang-Ylang and Citrus oils.