Palmarosa is a tall, herbaceous grass with long stems, aromatic leaves and flowering tops. It is native to Pakistan and India but is also cultivated in Indonesia, Brazil, the Comoro Islands, Africa and Madagascar. Palmarosa essential oil is steam-distilled from the fresh or dried grass which is harvested before the plant flowers. Palmarosa essential oil is also sometimes called Turkish Geranium, East Indian Geranium or Rose Geranium.

Because of its rose-like aroma, Palmarosa essential oil has historically been used to adulterate Rose oil. It has also been used in traditional Indian medicine to treat fevers, infectious diseases, rheumatism and nerve pain. Palmarosa was also used to make incense blends in India, and was traded through the trading routes of India and Persia where it migrated for use in the West.