Geranium

Geranium in perfumery is almost always Pelargonium graveolens, a leafy plant whose essential oil smells of rose, mint, and lemon — like rose distilled through fresh leaves. It's the perfumer's secret weapon in masculine fougères (where it softens lavender and oakmoss), in chypres (where it bridges bergamot and patchouli), and in 'masculine rose' compositions where it gives rosy depth without sweetness. Bourbon geranium (from Réunion) is the perfumery benchmark; Egyptian and Chinese are the workhorses.