Why is it used instead of rose oil?

Palmarosa oil has a similar rose-like fragrance to true rose oil but is far cheaper and easier to produce at scale, so it's often used as a substitute or blended with rose oil in perfumery.

How can you identify it in the field?

Crushing a leaf and noticing a distinct rose-like fragrance is the quickest field test, alongside its tufted growth habit and silvery-pink flower panicles.

✿Poaceae · Cymbopogon

Palmarosa / Roha Grass

Cymbopogon martini

Also known as Rusa Grass, Geranium Grass, Lemon Grass

Herb

Habit: Herb
Found in India: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand & more
Flowering: August-December

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Plant Details

Scientific name: Cymbopogon martini
Genus: Cymbopogon
Family: Poaceae
Habit: Herb
Habitat: Grasslands
Habitat type: Grassland
Distribution: Cultivated in most parts of the world
Found in India: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
Flowering & fruiting: August-December
Conservation status: Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Arrangement: Alternate
Type: Simple
Margin: Entire
Venation: Parallel

Typical of the Poaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower symmetry: Radial
Inflorescence: Spike
Fruit: Grain

Typical of the Poaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.

Local Names

Hindi: गन्धबेल Gandhabel, गन्धभेज घास Gandhej-ghas, Makora, motiya
Nepali: पाम रोजा Paam Rojaa
Tamil: தைலப்புல், பாம்ரோஸ்
Telugu: kachi gaddi, kanchi, kashy gaddi
Kannada: ಅಂಚೆ ಹುಲ್ಲು Anche hullu, ಅಂಚಿ ಹುಲ್ಲು Anchi hullu
Malayalam: സാമ്ബരപ്പുല്ലു Sambarappullu
Marathi: Kusatan, Roshsagavath, Rusha

Palmarosa in India

This aromatic grass, known as गन्धबेल Gandhabel (Hindi), தைலப்புல் (Tamil), kachi gaddi (Telugu), ಅಂಚೆ ಹುಲ್ಲು Anche hullu (Kannada), സാമ്ബരപ്പുല്ലു Sambarappullu (Malayalam), Kusatan (Marathi), is grown for the fragrant oil distilled from its leaves. Cymbopogon martini is cultivated across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, especially in drier regions.

Uses

Its leaves are steam-distilled for palmarosa oil, valued in perfumery and cosmetics for a rose-like scent, and used as a cheaper substitute or blending agent alongside true rose oil.

How to Identify Palmarosa

A tufted perennial grass with slender, aromatic leaves that release a rose-like fragrance when crushed. Flowering stems carry loose, silvery-pink panicles held well above the leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Roha grass called in different Indian languages?: गन्धबेल Gandhabel (Hindi); தைலப்புல் (Tamil); kachi gaddi (Telugu); ಅಂಚೆ ಹುಲ್ಲು Anche hullu (Kannada); സാമ്ബരപ്പുല്ലു Sambarappullu (Malayalam); Kusatan (Marathi).
Why is it used instead of rose oil?: Palmarosa oil has a similar rose-like fragrance to true rose oil but is far cheaper and easier to produce at scale, so it's often used as a substitute or blended with rose oil in perfumery.
How can you identify it in the field?: Crushing a leaf and noticing a distinct rose-like fragrance is the quickest field test, alongside its tufted growth habit and silvery-pink flower panicles.

Botanical family

Poaceae

Grass family

Palmarosa belongs to the Poaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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Sources: GBIF — Cymbopogon martini (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Cymbopogon martini (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)