The Story of Geranium Leaf Body Care: Formulations, Botanical Heritage, and Daily Rituals

Aesop’s Geranium Leaf Body Care range spans four complementary formulations built around Pelargonium graveolens (Rose Geranium): Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser (1998), Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment (1998), Geranium Leaf Body Balm (2007), and Geranium Leaf Body Scrub (2010). Designed to offer invigorating daily purification and concentrated moisture replenishment, this collection pairs uplifting green citrus botanicals with gentle skin conditioning across our wider range of hand and body preparations.

It is not unusual for the origins of a tradition to be forgotten, over time.

No one remembers exactly why Aesop has always had a relish for words that begin with the prefix ‘re’. It appears in a great swathe of our formulation names, such as Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, Resolute Hydrating Body Balm, Redemption Body Scrub, Refresh Bar Soap, Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm and Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash. Perhaps it has something to do with Aesop’s regard for returns, resets, restorations, and reenactments of refreshing regimens.

And while our Geranium Leaf Body Care formulations were among the first to break the ‘re’ naming convention, one ‘re’ word was core to the range: respect. Respect for the remarkable benefits and aroma of key botanical Pelargonium graveolens is specifically cited in Aesop folklore as the animating force that brought the collection into being.

The Scientists and the Strong-Scented Stork: A Botanical Heritage

Meaning ‘strong-scented stork’ because of the bill-like shape of its fruit, Pelargonium graveolens is the Latin binomial of the botanical colloquially known as rose geranium. Robust in composition and arrestingly green, citrus, and fresh in aroma, Geranium Leaf essential oil captured the imaginations of Aesop scientists of old.

In formulating with steam-distilled Geranium Leaf, Mandarin Rind, and Bergamot Rind, Aesop established an invigorating scent profile that uplifts the senses while purifying and softening all skin types without stripping essential moisture.

1998: Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser

Once upon a time in the 1990s, innovation-minded Aesopians cried out in one dismayed voice at the high-foaming, synthetically fragranced soaps that dominated the realm of commercial shower washes. The determination to create a counterpoint that could offer thorough cleansing and the aromatic uplift of essential oils, all while remaining gentle on the skin, was unanimous.

The laboratory set to work formulating a low-foaming gel that featured the verdant botanical that would lend the finished preparation its name:

• Primary Role: Daily aromatic shower gel that cleanses thoroughly without drying the skin.
• Key Botanicals: Geranium Leaf (Pelargonium graveolens), Mandarin Rind, Bergamot Rind.
• Sensory Texture: Clear, low-foaming gel with a crisp, green, citrus aroma.
• Available Formats: 100 mL / 3.4 fl oz (travel-friendly flip-cap), 500 mL / 17.0 fl oz (refillable pump bottle), and 500 mL / 17.0 fl oz screw-cap refill.
• Usage Ritual: Dispense a generous pump into hands or onto a sponge. Massage over soaked skin from neck to toe, work into a soft lather, and rinse thoroughly.

Launching in 1998 as the first-ever Aesop Body Cleanser, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser established a standard within our collection of body cleansers and scrubs.

1998: Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment

The Aesop Research and Development team made another contribution to 1998 by launching a concentrated companion offering alongside the inaugural Body Cleanser: Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment..

• Primary Role: Concentrated, intensely hydrating body oil tailored for dry, fatigued, or seasonally parched skin.
• Key Botanicals: Geranium Leaf, Mandarin Rind, Bergamot Rind, enriched with nutrient-dense Sweet Almond Oil and Macadamia Seed Oil.
• Sensory Texture: Rich, fast-absorbing botanical dry oil leaving skin soft, supple, and non-greasy.
• Available Format: 100 mL / 3.4 fl oz amber glass bottle with targeted dropper pipette.
• Usage Ritual: Massage one teaspoon onto freshly cleansed, damp skin straight from the shower to lock in maximum hydration. Alternatively, blend two to three drops into an Aesop body balm for intensified nourishment.

Formulated with replenishing lipids, Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment remains a cornerstone among Aesop’s body balms and oils.

2007: Geranium Leaf Body Balm

Though the dual offering of Body Cleanser and Hydrating Body Treatment satisfied enthusiasts for nearly a decade, Aesop chemists recognized a distinct textural preference among patrons who cherished the green aroma but preferred a comforting emulsion:.

• Primary Role: Daily medium-weight moisturizing balm that softens, soothes, and hydrates all skin types.
• Key Botanicals: Geranium Leaf, Mandarin Rind, Bergamot Rind, blended with Carrot Root Extract, Shea Butter, and Sweet Almond Oil.
• Sensory Texture: Medium-weight hydrating cream that melts into skin without tackiness or residue.
• Available Formats: 100 mL / 3.4 fl oz aluminium tube and 500 mL / 17.0 fl oz pump bottle.
• Usage Ritual: Morning and evening, massage generously into clean skin from neck to toes, concentrating on dry areas such as elbows, knees, and feet.

Introduced in 2007, Geranium Leaf Body Balm delivers lasting hydration while maintaining skin softness through a nourishing botanical blend..

2010: Geranium Leaf Body Scrub

By 2010, patrons frequently asked consultants for a mechanical exfoliant that possessed the signature olfactive uplift of the Geranium Leaf range. In response, Aesop formulated an invigorating exfoliating shower gel:

• Primary Role: Precise physical exfoliation that sloughs away dead surface skin cells and thoroughly cleanses.
• Key Exfoliants & Botanicals: Milled Pumice, micronized Bamboo Stem, Geranium Leaf, Mandarin Rind, and Bergamot Rind.
• Sensory Texture: Opaque, fine-grain scrubbing gel that rinses clean without waxy residue.
• Available Format: 180 mL / 6.2 fl oz flexible tube.
• Usage Ritual: Use once or twice weekly in the shower. Dispense onto wet skin and gently massage in circular motions across the body, paying attention to rough areas, before rinsing thoroughly.

Geranium Leaf Body Scrub completed the collection, transforming weekly body maintenance into an invigorating sensory ritual.

How to Build a Geranium Leaf Body Care Routine

To extract optimal botanical performance and sustained hydration from the collection, integrate the formulations into a dedicated three-step body regimen:

1. Step 1: Cleanse or Exfoliate: On ordinary days, wash with Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser in the shower for non-stripping daily hygiene. Once or twice per week, alternate with physical exfoliation from our body cleansers and scrubs collection to polish rough areas and promote cell renewal.
2. Step 2: Replenish Daily Moisture: While skin is still slightly damp after bathing, smooth Geranium Leaf Body Balm over the body to lock in moisture, soften skin texture, and restore barrier comfort.
3. Step 3: Intensify with Targeted Treatment: For parched skin, post-sun recovery, or cold climates, apply Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment directly to dry areas, or mix three drops into your balm. This layered approach mirrors the botanical customization found in our targeted skin care rituals.

Please refer to the product packaging for the most up-to-date ingredient list.

The Moral of the Story

As well as telling marvelously entertaining stories, our namesake fabulist was known for stating the underlying moral of each fable at its close. The moral of the story of Geranium Leaf Body Care: it is quite possible to stay fresh even as one is getting on in years.