Pure Tea Tree Essential Oil

Most essential oils travel a long way before they reach an Australian shelf. Tea tree doesn't. Melaleuca alternifolia grows naturally in a fairly small area of subtropical swampland on the north coast of New South Wales, and that region still produces most of the world's supply. It's one of the few aromatics where Australia is the origin rather than the destination. 

The scent is sharp, green and camphor-like, with a clean medicinal edge that most people recognise instantly. It isn't a pretty oil, and nobody buys it for a romantic blend. It's a workhorse: bracing in a diffuser, a staple in handmade soap, and one of the most widely used oils in the world. 

Two things are worth knowing before you buy any tea tree oil. First, there's an Australian Standard for it, AS 2782, which sets out the composition a genuine tea tree oil should meet, including a minimum level of terpinen-4-ol and a maximum level of cineole. Reputable suppliers can tell you whether their oil meets it. Second, tea tree oxidises faster than most oils once the bottle is opened, and oxidised tea tree is considerably more likely to irritate skin. Keep it cool, keep it dark, keep the lid on, and use it within about a year of opening.

The benefits associated with tea tree essential oil are numerous. It is also a fine natural treatment for acne; it reduces inflammation and, at the same time, prevents further development of the same problem. In the case of various skin disorders, people use tea tree oil .Furthermore, tea tree oil serves as an effective bug and insect repellent, making it a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts. Tea tree oil is particularly useful for relieving chapped and dry lips. Again, mixing it with eucalyptus tea tree oil can make an added transformation to your cleaning job, as you have an alternative in a natural yet harmless way of sanitizing all surfaces.

• Diffuser: 3 to 4 drops per 100 ml of water. Tea tree is bracing rather than relaxing, so it suits a bathroom, laundry or study more than a bedroom. It blends well with eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary and peppermint. 
• Soap making: tea tree is one of the most popular soap scents there is, and it holds up well through cold-process soap. 
• Scented cleaning water: 10 drops in a bucket of warm water for floors and benches, or 10 drops in 100 ml of water with a teaspoon of vodka or witch hazel as a surface spray. Shake before use. It's a scent, not a disinfectant, so use a registered disinfectant where killing germs matters. 
• Laundry: a few drops in the rinse cycle or on a wool dryer ball, like eucalyptus. 
• Body oil: 6 to 12 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil, a 1 to 2% dilution. Patch test first. 
• Hair rinse: 1 to 2 drops in a palmful of shampoo, which rinses straight out. 
• Not on the lips or anywhere near the mouth, and not on the face. Tea tree is harmful if swallowed. 
• Blending: eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass and cedarwood. 

• Product name: Pure Tea Tree Essential Oil 
• Botanical name: Melaleuca alternifolia 
• Part used: leaves and terminal branchlets 
• Extraction method: steam distillation 
• Origin: Australia 
• Aroma: fresh, sharp and camphor-like with a clean medicinal character 
• Common uses: diffuser blends, soap making, scented cleaning water and laundry 
• Size: 40 ml 
• Shelf life: best used within 12 months of opening. Tea tree oxidises faster than most oils, and oxidised oil is more likely to irritate skin.

Tea tree needs real care on two fronts: swallowing it, and pets. Please read this before your first use. 

1. For external use only. Do not swallow. Swallowing tea tree oil can cause serious harm, including drowsiness, confusion and loss of coordination, and the risk is greatest for children. 
2. Store it up high and out of sight of children. If any is swallowed, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away, or 000 in an emergency. 
3. Tea tree is highly toxic to cats and dogs, and it is one of the most common causes of essential oil poisoning in Australian pets. Never apply it to an animal or use it in pet bedding or shampoo, keep the bottle out of reach, and ask your vet before diffusing where animals spend time. 
4. Never apply it neat. Dilute to 1 to 2%, which is 6 to 12 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil. 
5. Patch test every new blend on your inner forearm and wait 24 hours. Tea tree is a recognised sensitiser and reactions can develop over time. 
6. Don't use it on or near the lips or mouth, on the face, or on broken or irritated skin. 
7. Keep it away from the eyes and inner ears. If oil gets in an eye, wipe it with a carrier oil or full-cream milk rather than water, then seek medical advice. 
8. Replace the bottle if the scent turns sharp or harsh. Oxidised tea tree irritates skin far more readily than fresh oil. 
9. Diffuse in a room with airflow, in sessions of 15 to 30 minutes. 
10. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your healthcare professional before using it. 
11. Don't use it on children under 2, and halve the adult dilution for older children after checking with a doctor or pharmacist. 
12. Store tightly capped somewhere cool and dark, away from heat and open flames.