Geranium oil is obtained through steam distillation. Everything from the plant is used in this process: the twigs, leaves and flowers are all combined in the boiler to obtain the fragrant oil.

It is best to let the twigs and leaves wither for a few hours prior to steam distillation. These will then give off even more fragrance.
Geranium oil is naturally rich in the components geraniol and citronellol. These give the oil a strong rose scent but with a lemony twist, among other things.

Because of its rosy aspect, sometimes the more expensive rose oil is partially substituted for geranium oil in perfumes.