Description

Pelargonium Graveolens Water is a hydrosol, or floral water, derived from the Pelargonium graveolens plant, commonly known as Geranium. This water is produced during the steam distillation process of the plant’s flowers, leaves, and stems, capturing the essence of the plant in a milder, water-based form. It is used in cosmetic and personal care products for its refreshing, soothing, and toning properties.

Chemical Composition and Structure:
Pelargonium Graveolens Water contains water-soluble components that include:

Essential Oil Constituents: Although present in lower concentrations compared to the essential oil, it retains compounds like geraniol, citronellol, and linalool, which provide the characteristic floral aroma and some of the therapeutic properties.
Flavonoids: These compounds offer antioxidant benefits and contribute to the soothing effects on the skin.
Tannins: These compounds provide mild astringent properties, which can help to tone and tighten the skin.
Phenolic Compounds: Present in small amounts, these contribute to the water's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The composition is less concentrated than in the essential oil but still beneficial for skincare applications.

Physical Properties:

Appearance: Usually a clear to slightly cloudy liquid.
Odor: Features a subtle, fresh, and floral scent reminiscent of geranium flowers.
Solubility: Completely soluble in water, making it easy to incorporate into aqueous formulations.

Production Process:

Harvesting: The flowers, leaves, and stems of Pelargonium graveolens are collected.
Steam Distillation: The plant material is subjected to steam distillation, where steam passes through the plant, extracting essential oils and other water-soluble components.
Condensation: The steam is then condensed back into liquid form, separating the essential oil from the hydrosol.
Collection: The hydrosol, or floral water, is collected and often filtered to ensure clarity and purity.
Formulation: The floral water is used in a variety of cosmetic and personal care products, such as toners, facial mists, and lotions.

Applications:

Cosmetics: Used in skincare products for its refreshing and soothing properties.
Skincare: Beneficial for calming and toning the skin, as well as providing a gentle fragrance.
Haircare: Can be included in hair products to enhance scalp health and provide a light, pleasant scent.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Environmental Impact: The production of Pelargonium Graveolens Water generally has a minimal environmental impact. Sustainable harvesting and distillation practices are recommended to further reduce any environmental effects.
Safety: This ingredient is generally considered safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products when used as directed. It is well-tolerated by most skin types. People allergic to plants of the Geraniaceae family or with very sensitive skin should be cautious.

INCI:


Cosmetic astringent. This ingredient exerts a direct effect on the skin by tightening dilated pores by contracting stratum corneum cells and removing superfluous oil.

Deodorant agent. When substances that give off an unpleasant odour are included in cosmetic formulations (typical examples are methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulphide derived from garlic), deodorants attenuate or eliminate the unpleasant exhalation. It helps counteract the formation of bad odours on body surfaces.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.
Synonyms:

CAS: 90082-51-2 EC number 290-140-0