Rose Geraniums
Surprisingly, one of the most wonderful rose scents in the garden comes not from roses, but from rose geraniums – and not from flowers but from leaves. Jackie French uses the leaves of rose geranium to make a rose-scented room deodoriser that is perfect for sweetening musty rooms.
Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) is a shrubby, evergreen perennial growing to around 60cm (2′) tall. It bears small, rose pink and purple flowers. The foliage is furry and lobed, and gives off a rose scent when crushed. This hardy plant is frost and drought tolerant, and is very easy to propagate from cuttings. It grows in most areas of Australia, except for the tropics and subtropics.
Rose-scented room deodoriser
1 tbsp lemon peel, white pith removed
1 tsp whole cloves
rose geranium leaves to fill jar
vodka
Method
1. Put the lemon peel and cloves into a jar.
2. Add as many rose geranium leaves as you can cram into the jar, then cover with vodka.
3. Shake, then set aside for about a week.
4. To spray, dilute 1 tbsp of rose infusion in 500ml water.
Availability
Rose scented and other fragrant leaved geraniums are available from most garden centres and from specialist herb and perennial nurseries.