✦ Rose-type floral aroma chemical composed primarily of citronellol and geraniol — the authentic olfactory signature of fresh rose petals
✦ Delivers a dewy, fresh, slightly green rose character — rounder and livelier than pure citronellol alone due to its geraniol content
✦ Core material for rose soliflores, chypre accords, rose attars, and oriental blends — used across fine fragrance and functional perfumery
✦ Excellent solubility in alcohol, DPG, and fixed oils — fully compatible with both spray perfume and concentrated attar or perfume oil bases
✦ Performs within IFRA 51st Amendment limits in soap, lotion, shampoo, and cosmetic applications — EU allergen labeling rules apply
✦ EU-listed allergens citronellol and geraniol are present — mandatory label declaration above 0.001% (leave-on) and 0.01% (rinse-off)
✦ Vegan and cruelty-free; nature-identical or naturally derived — widely accepted in clean, natural, and artisan fragrance formulations

Rhodinol is a fragrance alcohol with deep roots in classical European and Eastern perfumery, traditionally obtained as an isolate fraction from rose geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens) — one of the most economically important aromatic crops cultivated in Egypt, Morocco, and Reunion Island. Its name is derived from rhodon, the Greek word for rose, reflecting its defining olfactory character. The material is composed predominantly of citronellol, the primary alcohol of rose petals, along with a significant proportion of geraniol, which contributes fresh, slightly citrusy brightness to the overall profile. Before the development of highly specific rose synthetics, rhodinol served as the accessible and affordable backbone of rose accord construction for perfumers worldwide.

What distinguishes rhodinol from pure citronellol is its natural complexity. The geraniol content introduces a livelier, greener, slightly fruity dimension that makes rhodinol more dynamic and organ-friendly than either of its major components used in isolation. It sits precisely in mid-note territory with a soft transition toward base, providing excellent bloom in the heart of a fragrance without overpowering surrounding materials. Its natural compatibility with damascone materials, rose oxide, sandalwood, and musks makes it one of the most compositionally flexible rosy materials available to the formulator — equally at home in a minimalist rose soliflore and a densely layered oud rose attar.

Bio Shop Pakistan supplies cosmetic-grade rhodinol suitable for DIY perfumers, attar blenders, soap makers, candle crafters, and personal care formulators seeking a reliable, high-purity rosy floral material.

SCENT DESCRIPTION : Rhodinol opens with a clean, dewy freshness — green and slightly citrusy in the first moments, with the unmistakable impression of rose petals just after rain. As it develops, a softer, rounder rose core emerges with a delicate waxy-floral warmth and gentle powdery undertone. It carries the olfactory authenticity of natural rose without the heaviness or indolic depth of rose absolute. At low concentrations, rhodinol reads as luminous and airy — a rose note that suggests rather than announces.

NOTE POSITION : Mid / Mid-Base

FRAGRANCE FAMILY : Floral · Rose · Chypre-Floral

FACETS : Rosy · Fresh · Dewy · Green · Slightly Waxy

TENACITY : Medium — 4 to 6 hours on skin; excellent on fabric and in rinse-off applications

SILLAGE : Medium — diffuses well in the opening heart; softens to a close, intimate skin accord in the dry-down

Chemical Name : Mixture of citronellol and geraniol (citronellol-dominant)
CAS Number : Citronellol (primary component): 106-22-9 · Geraniol (secondary component): 106-24-1 · Verify rhodinol blend CAS with supplier
Synonyms : Rose alcohol · Geranium alcohol · Citronellol-geraniol blend · Rhodinol extra · Rose geranium fraction
Purity : 95%+ typical — verify with supplier certificate of analysis
Appearance : Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid; free from visible turbidity
Odor Threshold : Approximately 0.04 ppm (citronellol basis) — very low; effective at trace concentrations
Solubility : Insoluble in water; freely soluble in perfumers alcohol, DPG, IPM, and fixed oils
Specific Gravity : 0.860 – 0.880 at 20°C — verify with supplier
Flash Point : Approximately 93°C / 199°F — verify with supplier
Type : Natural isolate (from Pelargonium graveolens) or nature-identical synthetic — verify with supplier

Fine Fragrance : ★★★★★
Rhodinol is a foundational rose material in fine fragrance construction. It forms the backbone of rose soliflores and integrates naturally into chypre, fougère, and oriental structures without forcing or sharpness. Use at 0.5–5.0% in EDP and EDT formulations as a rosy heart note anchor.

Attar and Oriental Blending : ★★★★★
In concentrated oil-based attar work, rhodinol provides the authentic rosy-floral character that defines classic Taif and Damask rose-style compositions. Its compatibility with sandalwood, oud, and musks makes it indispensable for traditional Eastern attar work as well as modern neo-oriental styles. Use at 2–10% in concentrated attar or perfume oil bases.

Functional Fragrance : ★★★★☆
Rhodinol performs reliably in soap, shampoo, body wash, and fabric care products within IFRA recommended limits. Its floral rose character survives rinse-off conditions effectively and imparts a pleasant, natural-feeling fragrance signature. Stability is generally good in mildly alkaline rinse-off matrices at recommended usage rates.

Cosmetics and Skin Care : ★★★★☆
In creams, lotions, and body care products, rhodinol delivers a gentle rosy fragrance at low irritation levels within recommended concentrations. As a product containing EU-listed allergens (citronellol and geraniol), its presence in leave-on cosmetics requires ingredient declaration above 0.001% in the finished formulation. Use at 0.05–0.5% in finished cosmetic products.

Home Fragrance : ★★★★☆
Rhodinol performs well in reed diffusers and room sprays, delivering a clean, natural floral rose note with good diffusion. In candle applications, its moderately high flash point (approx. 93°C) is acceptable for most wax systems with proper fragrance load testing. Blends well with other florals, light woods, and musks in home fragrance compositions.

RECOMMENDED USAGE RATES

Application : Suggested Rate
EDP / Perfume Concentrate : 1.0 – 5.0%
EDT : 0.5 – 3.0%
Body Lotion / Cream : 0.05 – 0.5%
Shampoo / Body Wash : 0.2 – 0.8%
Bar Soap : 0.5 – 1.5%
Candle : 3.0 – 8.0%
Reed Diffuser : 5.0 – 15.0%

IFRA 51ST AMENDMENT LIMITS
Based on citronellol (primary component of rhodinol).
Always obtain a supplier-issued IFRA certificate specific to your batch — rhodinol composition (citronellol/geraniol ratio) may vary and affects applicable limits.

IFRA Category : Maximum Limit
Category 1 (Lip products) : 0.6%
Category 2 (Deodorant/AP sprays) : 0.6%
Category 3 (Eye and facial area) : 0.6%
Category 4 (Fine fragrance — EDP/EDT) : No specific IFRA limit; QRA and safety assessment apply
Category 5A (Body lotion, leave-on) : 3.4%
Category 5B (Face cream/moisturizer) : 1.0%
Category 5C (Hand cream) : 2.0%
Category 5D (Baby leave-on products) : 0.3%
Category 7A (Rinse-off hair products) : 3.5%
Category 8 (Intimate wash/wipes) : 1.0%
Category 9 (Rinse-off — soap, shower gel) : 3.4%
Category 10A (Household surface cleaners) : No restriction
Category 10B (Fabric softener) : 10.0%
Category 11A (Candle) : No IFRA restriction
Category 11B (Incense) : No IFRA restriction

⚠️ Citronellol and geraniol are both EU-listed allergens under Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Both must be declared by name on finished product labels if present above 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products.

⚠️ Individuals with known fragrance sensitivity or reported geranium oil allergy may react to rhodinol. Patch testing is advised for skin-contact products.

METHOD 1 — Direct Dissolution in Perfumers Alcohol
Rhodinol dissolves readily and completely in ethanol at all practical usage concentrations with no clouding or separation. Add to your alcohol base and allow 24–48 hours of maceration before final evaluation — the rosy character integrates and softens meaningfully during this period, revealing its full diffusive quality.

METHOD 2 — DPG or IPM Pre-Dilution for Oil-Based Attar Work
For attar and perfume oil bases, pre-dilute rhodinol at 10–50% in DPG or fractionated coconut oil before blending. This improves workability and distribution, and softens any initial sharp citronellol note, resulting in a smoother, more natural rose integration in the finished attar.

METHOD 3 — Oil Phase Addition for Cosmetics
In emulsion-based cosmetic formulations, dissolve rhodinol into the oil phase during manufacturing before emulsification. This ensures uniform distribution throughout the product matrix and avoids localized concentration that could trigger sensitization responses in finished leave-on products.

BEST PAIRINGS

Rose Oxide → Amplifies authenticity; creates true rose petal soliflore character at trace levels
Geraniol → Reinforces fresh, citrusy-rosy dimension; deepens the floral core naturally
Citronellol → Adds smoothness and powdery warmth; creates a richer, fuller rose accord
Damascone Alpha → Contributes fruity-rosy lift; elevates the entire rose construction
Hedione / Hedione HC → Adds diffusive jasmine-rose radiance; increases sillage and airiness dramatically
Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol → The classic rose pairing; PEA provides honied depth that rhodinol brightens
Iso E Super → Adds cedarwood transparency; bridges floral rose toward woody-oriental territory
Galaxolide / Habanolide → Anchors and extends the floral note; provides musk lift and tenacity
Ambroxan → Provides ambergris depth and skin affinity; transforms rose into a modern oriental
Sandalwood EO / Javanol → Builds the classic rose-sandalwood attar base; essential for Eastern-style compositions
Oud / Agarwood EO → Grounds the rose in traditional Eastern style; the signature heart of rose oud attar
Eugenol → Adds warm, spicy-rosy depth; essential for rose oriental and carnation-adjacent accords
Linalool → Softens and bridges the accord; introduces a lavender-floral smoothing effect

AVOID : Prolonged exposure to strongly alkaline environments (cold process soap above 1.5%) without prior discoloration testing. Rhodinol may show slight yellowing in high-pH matrices over time. Always test at target rate in a small batch before full production.

Of all the rose-family alcohols I work with, rhodinol holds a particular place for what it does not do. It does not impose. It does not dominate. Where rose absolute asserts its presence with honeyed, indolic weight, rhodinol suggests — like the impression of rose petals in a room you have just left. This restraint is precisely its power. In attar work, especially in the context of sandalwood or aged oud bases, rhodinol integrates with an organic naturalness that no single synthetic alcohol fully replicates. Its citronellol-geraniol duality gives the rose note internal movement — a freshness that prevents it from reading as static or flat, and a softness that allows even the most complex oriental base to breathe around it.

ADVANCED TIP : Build a modular rose primitive using rhodinol at 3.0%, rose oxide at 0.08%, and damascone alpha at 0.4%, dissolved together in DPG at 10x dilution. This three-material micro-accord reads as fully formed, three-dimensional rose at inclusion rates as low as 0.5–1.0% in a finished formula. It functions as a drop-in rose module — add it to any floral, oriental, chypre, or fougère construction without disturbing structural balance. The rhodinol carries and rounds; the oxide provides petal authenticity; the damascone provides the lift. Scale the rose oxide down to 0.04% if you want the rose to read as a suggestion rather than a declaration.

Physical State : Clear mobile liquid at room temperature; no special physical hazard under normal conditions
Skin Safety : Skin sensitizer at high concentrations; use within IFRA recommended limits; patch test advised for leave-on applications; avoid undiluted skin contact
Eye Contact : Avoid direct contact with eyes; flush immediately with clean water for 15 minutes if contact occurs; seek medical attention if irritation persists
Ingestion : Not for ingestion; keep out of reach of children; seek immediate medical attention if swallowed
Ventilation : Adequate ventilation recommended during weighing and blending; avoid prolonged inhalation of concentrated vapor or mist
Storage : Store in a cool, dry, dark location at 15–25°C; keep away from heat sources, sparks, and direct sunlight
Shelf Life : 24–36 months from date of manufacture when stored in sealed, appropriate container; oxidation may alter scent character over time
Container : Store in original amber glass or HDPE container; do not use PET or PVC containers for extended storage
Flammability : Combustible liquid; flash point approximately 93°C; keep away from open flame, heat sources, and incompatible oxidizing agents

Q: What exactly is rhodinol and how is it different from citronellol?
A: Rhodinol is a fragrance material composed primarily of citronellol (60–85%) and geraniol (15–30%), typically derived from rose geranium oil or produced as a nature-identical synthetic. Pure citronellol has a cooler, cleaner, more linear rose note, while rhodinol is livelier and slightly fruitier due to its geraniol content — making it feel more like a natural rose material.

Q: Can rhodinol be used in cold process soap?
A: Yes, rhodinol is suitable for cold process soap within IFRA Category 9 limits (up to 3.4% on a citronellol basis). Test at 1.0–1.5% in a small trial batch first, as very high concentrations in strongly alkaline lye environments may cause slight discoloration over time.

Q: Does rhodinol require allergen labeling on cosmetic products?
A: Yes. Rhodinol contains citronellol and geraniol, both EU-listed declarable allergens under EC No 1223/2009. Both must be listed by name on finished product labels if present above 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products. This applies to Pakistani formulations destined for EU export as well.

Q: What is a safe starting rate for rhodinol in an EDP formula?
A: Begin at 0.5–1.0% in a 10% fragrance-in-alcohol EDP formula and evaluate after 24–48 hours of maceration. At 1.0% rhodinol reads clearly as a rosy-floral mid note without dominating. Scale to 3–5% if rose is the intended focal character of the composition.

Q: How does rhodinol compare to rose absolute as a rose material?
A: Rose absolute is a full-spectrum natural extract containing phenyl ethyl alcohol, damascenone, rose wax, and dozens of trace compounds — it is richer, darker, more honeyed, and far more expensive. Rhodinol captures the core citronellol-geraniol signature of rose effectively and serves as a cost-efficient functional material for most applications, but lacks the indolic warmth, wax, and complexity of the absolute. Professional formulators frequently use rhodinol as a high-volume rose base material alongside trace amounts of rose absolute to extend naturals without compromising character.