GERANIOL

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Geraniol is the rose terpene — the compound behind the floral aroma of roses, geraniums, and certain lemon varieties. In cannabis, geraniol is relatively rare as a primary terpene but appears as a secondary note in certain floral-leaning cultivars. Its high boiling point (229°C) means geraniol survives even high-temp extraction, making it one of the more shelf-stable terpenes. Outside cannabis, geraniol is commercially important in perfumery (as "rose alcohol"), as a natural mosquito repellent (citronella), and in food flavorings. Research on geraniol explores anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and neuroprotective activity. Geraniol-forward cultivars often carry a distinctly perfumed, almost dessert-like quality that separates them from the typical citrus-gas-earth cannabis aromas.