Botanical Name | Cymbopogon martinii stapf var. Motia |
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Common Name | Palmarosa |
Family | Graminae |
Parts of used | Whole plant |
Method of extraction | Steam distillation |
Distribution | Sub-tropical regions |
Type of product | Cultivated |
Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) is a perennial grass that grows up to 3m tall. Leaves are linear-lanceolate, cordate or amplexicaule, 8-50 cm long, 1-3 cm broad. Besides, flowers are spikelets in panicles turning reddish-brown when mature. The plant is acrid.
Palmarosa oil is obtained from the freshly cut whole flowering plant of Cymbopogon martinii stapf var. The freshly cut whole plant is used to manufacture palmarosa essential oils. This therapeutic essential oil is used in soap making ingredients, lotions, massage oils, diffusers, potpourri, scent, air fresheners, body fragrance, perfume oils, aromatherapy products, bath oils, towel scenting, spa’s, incense, light rings, laundry, facial steams, hair treatments, and more. This oil is widely used as a flavoring agent in the food and beverage industry, as well as in soap, perfume, oil and cosmetics industries.
The Palmarosa essential oil mostly constitutes citral, Geranyl Acetate, Linalyl Acetate, Geranial, Neral, Limonene, Myrcene, and Beta-caryophyllene.
The essential oil is antiseptic and bactericide, stomachic, relieves the discomforts of flu and high temperature, prevents wrinkles, treats broken veins, boils, normalize thyroids, and relieves nervous exhaustion, stress-related conditions.
Palmarosa oil contains the active compound geraniol, which is widely revered for its peculiar scent. Likewise, the oil has a variety of traditional medicinal and household uses. It is an effective insect repellent, thus usually applied to stored grain and beans, an anthelmintic against nematodes, and an anti-fungal and mosquito repellent.
The essential oil is a good flavoring agent in cosmetics. It is used for isolating high-grade geraniol, which is used cosmetics industry for scenting of soaps, as well as flavoring tobacco. Likewise, it is extensively used as a fragrance component in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and perfumes, toothpaste, and in perfumery.