Geranium Absolute

#### Geranium Absolute. This comparatively recent addition to the perfumer's shelf is produced from **Geranium**** ****Concrète**** **(see monograph) by the conventional method (see **Absolutes**, Part One of this work). By far, the largest part of all concrète comes from Morocco where part of the production is also processed further into Geranium Absolute in very modern installations, particularly in the region around Khemisset, Mâaziz and Tiflet in northwestern Morocco, inland from the Atlantic coast near Rabat. **Geranium**** ****Absolute**** **can vary considerably in appearance and odor type depending on the type of solvent used in the extraction of the plant material. It seems that the petroleum ether concrète is becoming more popular, and it yields an absolute of lighter color than do most other concrètes. Geranium absolute is usually a green or dark green liquid with an intense and very powerful, somewhat leafy-earthy, but soft and pleasant odor. The leafy-green notes are quite pronounced, but the rich, rosy-minty undertone remains on a blotter throughout the evaporation of the oil. The odor of the absolute is less sharp and more tenacious than that of the essential oil. Since the yield of absolute from geranium is slightly higher than the yield of essential oil from the same plant material (in Morocco), there is reason to believe that Moroccan geranium absolute will be of increasing interest in perfumery. **Geranium**** ****Water**** ****Absolute**** **is produced by benzene- or petroleum ether extraction of the distillation waters from geranium *oil *production. This "water absolute" is rich in "rhodinol" but poor in terpenes, esters and ketones. Thus, it is a comparatively weak perfume material but nevertheless quite valuable for its rhodinol content. Geranium water absolute is produced in Morocco only. Since the geranium oil from Réunion ("geranium Bourbon") seems to decide the price of all other geranium oils, these products, including the absolute, are frequently adulterated. Only an olfactory examination in connection with an experienced instrumental analysis (vapor phase chromatography, infra-red, etc.), can establish a clever adulteration since all the main components and many of the trace constituents of geranium oil and geranium absolute are well known and synthetically produced. **Geranium**** ****Absolute**** **is used in perfumery, particularly in high-class rose bases, chypres, fantasy perfumes, etc. The concrète (see following monograph) offers certain advantages over the absolute in soap perfumes.