Scented pelargoniums are more than delightful ornamentals. Their leaves can be dried and used in potpourris or placed in sachets. They also may be added to tea, for example, a ginger scented leaf will put zing in lemon balm tea. Pound cake made with rose scented geranium leaves is a classic. To do this, place leaves in the bottom of your prepared cake pan and pour the batter over the leaves, then bake as usual.
Some herbal cooks keep a canister of rose geranium scented sugar on the counter to use in desserts.
Simply layer fresh leaves with your sugar, remove the leaves after two weeks and enjoy. One can even whirl a leaf with sugar in a blender to get instant flavor. Scented geranium jelly makes a special gift. After three centuries of hybridization there is a vast array of forms and fragrances available for the scented geranium fancier. Many are named for their similarity to other smells, but the perceptions are individual and one person's sweet apricot scented plant may be anothers sour milk.