From seed to distillation
Follow the farmer
A ROSE GERANIUM STORY

This year, we are spending time with resilient rose geranium, following it from seed to soil to still, learning from our master distiller Jud as he tends and distills the plant, and exploring how this remarkable ally shows up again and again across our rituals and so many of our formulations.

Gift with purchase

For every full size product purchased made with rose geranium, receive a free 1oz Rose Geranium HydroSoul.

Purchase a 16 oz Rose Geranium HydroSoul Refill, receive a free 4oz Rose Geranium HydroSoul.

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A study in balance and resilience

Rose geranium isn’t a rose, nor is it a common geranium — it’s its own resilient, aromatic plant with a character shaped by sun, soil, and season. When distilled, its fragrance feels familiar yet unmistakably unique, releasing a floral-green aroma that speaks to its whole-plant chemistry. In skincare, rose geranium is valued as a dermal adaptogen: it supports the skin’s ability to meet stress, ease extremes, and find equilibrium, whether the skin is oily, dry, reactive, or fatigued. Rather than forcing change, it encourages responsiveness — calming inflammation, regulating oil flow, and communicating safety to the skin — helping it adapt and recover in the face of imbalance.

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Whole plants in a bottle

  • Rose Geranium HydroSoul

    $10.99 - $31.99

    100% fresh plant hydrosol and nothing else. Gentle and slightly astringent with a soft and delicate rosy-leaf fragrance.

    SHOP HYDROSOUL 

  • Rose Geranium HydroSoul Refill

    $52.50 - $89.00

    HydroSoul refills in 8 oz or 16 oz sizes, with the option to include an empty 4 oz and 1 oz mister. Perfect for daily use and travel.

    SHOP REFILLS 

Jud talks plants and skin

"Rose geranium is what we call a dermal adaptogen. It’s deeply balancing—whether skin is oily or dry, it helps bring everything back to a state of equilibrium.

It shares some chemistry with lemon thyme, including certain antibacterial alcohols, which helps explain its adaptogenic nature. But rose geranium expresses that chemistry in a much more mellow way. It balances and buffers the skin rather than acting aggressively.

Compared to lemon thyme, rose geranium has a higher pH, so it supports pH balance without being too intense. It also contains rose oxide—the compound that gives it its rosy scent and is also found in Bulgarian rose—along with other constituents that support skin conditioning and emotional balance.

In hydrosol form, rose geranium works on multiple levels at once, supporting bacteria balance, inflammation, mood, and hormones. That’s why it’s such a reliable, all-around plant for the skin."

The planting cycle

When rose geranium is harvested, Jud and the team at Morning Myst Botanics take 'nice and cute,' cuttings and plant them in small trays filled with rich soil. The plant takes two to three months to take root in the warmth of the greenhouse. By February it is moved to bigger pots and on May 1st they plant it out in the fields. By the end of the hot summer, it harvested and then distilled into the HydroSouls we hold so dear.

Ancient Alchemy

These beautiful alembic copper stills look like temples, and in some ways they are. Sacred places where divinity dwells, emanating grace. Here the spirits of the plant are transformed into matter through the mysterious alchemy of the elements we call distillation. This fluid ‘plant-milk’ embodies the soul of the plant, symbolizing a transformation of spirit (ether) into matter (water). Aromatic molecules are part of the plant’s immune system and a hydrosol represents the watery aspect of this complex, intelligent system. 

From our journal

  • Rose Geranium: A study in balance and resilience

    Because rose geranium shares some aromatic constituents with rose, it is frequently spoken of in relation to rose. But it is not a substitute, not a lesser version, not a stand-in or a “poor man’s rose.” It is a different plant entirely, with its own resilience and intelligence.

    READ MORE 

  • Our Guide to HydroSoul Distillation

    A definitive guide to HydroSouls. Here we discuss the process of creating hydrosols, their history, their vast benefits, and why they are one of the most transformative and important plant ingredients for skin. A must read.

    READ MORE 

  • Oil & Water Ritual

    The acid mantle is the skin’s protective barrier against disease. This living layer - a thin coating of lipids (oil) and perspiration (water) - must be intact for the skin to maintain balance. When its delicate pH is disrupted, the skin’s ability to protect is weakened. Rhythmic pressing of remarkable plant hydrosols together with silky oil serums into your skin helps it to self-regulate.

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