What is Tea Tree essential oil and what is it good for?
Tea Tree essential oil, also known as melaleuca oil, comes from the leaves of a small evergreen tree native to Australia. One of the most versatile and studied essential oils, Tea Tree is touted for its incredible skin-cleansing properties and fresh, purifying scent.
Before this oil became renowned worldwide, Australia’s First Peoples traditionally used it to soothe skin. While researchers are still studying its potential today, Tea Tree oil has many known benefits for your skin, hair, and nails. From reducing the appearance of blemishes to keeping your nails looking healthy and strong, Tea Tree oil is a vanity cabinet must-have.
Does all this sound too good to be true? Keep reading to learn more about what Tea Tree oil can do!
Harvesting the power of the tea tree plant
The Australian tea tree (aka Melaleuca alternifolia) is a member of the myrtle family, like clove and eucalyptus. It has papery bark and fragrant, needle-like leaves that produce fluffy, white flowers in the spring and summer. The earliest reported uses of these leaves can be traced back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who would crush the leaves to inhale the scent or soak them for topical applications.
How is Tea Tree essential oil made?
Tea Tree essential oil is obtained from steaming the leaves of the tea tree. This process, called steam distillation, involves suspending leaves over boiling water so that steam can pull the oils from the plant matter. The resulting oil is extremely potent, which means you only need a drop or two to enjoy Tea Tree oil’s benefits.
The natural composition of the oil
Tea Tree essential oil is made up of several aromatic compounds, including terpinen-4-ol, gamma-terpinene, and alpha-terpinene. These compounds are classified as monoterpenes, which are fragrant molecules that give the essential oil its unique, crisp-clean scent. They are also responsible for Tea Tree oil’s cleansing effect on the skin. Monoterpenes have been the focus of several studies due to their antioxidant activity.*
What are the uses and benefits of Tea Tree essential oil?
Tea Tree essential oil is found in many over-the-counter items that claim to treat acne, athlete’s foot, and nail fungus. It’s also a common ingredient in household products, such as clarifying shampoo and soap. An all-around favorite for freshening skin, hair, and home, this oil may just be the miracle worker you’ve been waiting for!
Benefits of Tea Tree essential oil
Packed with cleansing power, Tea Tree oil can beautify your skin, refresh your scalp, and keep your nails looking their best. In addition to its countless wellness and beauty benefits, Tea Tree oil is also a powerful odor neutralizer.
Using Tea Tree oil for skin care
When you add Tea Tree oil to your skin care regimen, you’ll notice your complexion starts to look healthier and your blemishes don’t appear as noticeable. Try mixing 2–4 drops Tea Tree oil with 1 tablespoon aloe vera and applying the gel to your T-zone once a day.
Using Tea Tree oil on hair
Healthy-looking hair starts with good scalp care, and Tea Tree oil’s skin-cleansing power gives your scalp the TLC it needs. Many natural shampoos already have Tea Tree oil in them, but if yours doesn’t, simply add Tea Tree oil directly to the bottle and shake to mix. A good rule of thumb is to use 10 drops of essential oil per 8 ounces of shampoo.
Using Tea Tree oil on nails
Want a tip for beautiful fingernails and toenails? Once a week, dab a drop of Tea Tree oil directly onto your nails using a cotton swab. If you want to nourish your toenails even more, try a foot bath with Tea Tree oil and Epsom salt.
Using Tea Tree oil for sleep
While Tea Tree might not be one of the first essential oils you think of for sleep, its refreshing scent can be especially soothing when paired with Lavender oil. To use Tea Tree and Lavender oils in your bedtime routine, add 5 drops of each to a small spray bottle and fill the rest of the way with water. Spritz the calming scent onto your pillow and sheets before you climb into bed.
Using Tea Tree oil in homemade cleaners
Add Tea Tree oil to your favorite cleaning solutions for a boost of freshness. If you’re looking for a natural alternative to your current shower scrub, make your own with 10 drops Tea Tree oil, 1 cup baking soda, and ¼ cup dish soap.
Using Tea Tree oil to eliminate odors
Musty closets, stinky trash cans, and the lingering smell of last night’s cooking adventure are no match for Tea Tree oil. Diffuse Tea Tree oil’s squeaky-clean scent on its own or with a citrus oil like Lemon or Grapefruit to clear the air and keep things fresh.
Using Tea Tree oil as a natural deodorant
Tea Tree oil doesn’t just banish bad smells from your home—it can also help you stave off your own body odor. Put 2 drops of Tea Tree oil on each underarm to help you smell fresh and clean.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Tea Tree DIY blogs
Learn how to use Tea Tree oil in your skin care, hair care, and cleaning routines with these DIYs.
What blends well with Tea Tree oil?
While many people enjoy the light, clean fragrance of Tea Tree oil on its own, some prefer to pair it with other essential oils. Tea Tree oil blends especially well with minty oils and other oils in the myrtle family. You can also combine it with citrus oils for a brighter, sweeter scent.
Mix and match with these essential oils to create your own custom blend.
Eucalyptus Globulus oil
Bold, rich, and earthy, Eucalyptus Globulus essential oil pairs well with the refreshing scent of Tea Tree.
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Eucalyptus Radiata oil
The mildest of the Eucalyptus oils, Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil has a light, herbaceous, slightly citrus scent that enhances Tea Tree’s green aroma.
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Lavender oil
For a softer, more relaxing aroma, pair Tea Tree with Lavender essential oil in linen sprays, homemade soaps, and your nighttime skin care products.
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Lemon oil
A classic combination, Lemon and Tea Tree essential oils complement each other beautifully for a bright, clean, and citrusy fragrance.
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Peppermint oil
For a cooler, more refreshing fragrance, add Peppermint essential oil to your Tea Tree oil diffuser blends and DIYs.
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The benefits of pre-made blends
While creating your own blends is a fun and creative process, it’s tricky to get right. Blending essential oils is a science that requires skill and relies on your knowledge of the different essential oils and their aromatic properties. Pre-made blends eliminate that guesswork with tried-and-true combinations formulated for a specific purpose, such as freshening the air or nourishing your skin.
Check out these blends featuring Tea Tree essential oil:
Australian Kuranya™ essential oil blendKidScents® Owie™ essential oil blend
Melrose™ essential oil blend
Purification® essential oil blend
Tea Tree oil safety guidelines and notices
Before you start using Tea Tree essential oil in your skin care routine or bath and body products, get familiar with these safety dos and don’ts:
Do a patch test first
Tea Tree oil is gentle enough that most people don’t need to dilute it; however, it’s always a good idea to do a skin test anytime you try a new product. Start with a single drop of Tea Tree oil on your skin, and if you have no issues, you can apply up to 2–4 drops to your face, scalp, or feet. If you feel any discomfort, add olive oil or another carrier oil to dilute the oil.
Don’t apply Tea Tree oil everywhere
To avoid irritation, avoid putting Tea Tree oil near your eyes, nose, ears, mouth, or other mucous membranes. After using this oil or any other essential oil, you should also wash your hands to prevent accidental contact with sensitive areas.
Do tell your doctor
While some essential oils may interact with certain medications, there’s currently no evidence of drug interactions with Tea Tree oil. However, many experts recommend that if you’re pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, it’s wise to consult your medical provider before using essential oils.
Don’t ingest Tea Tree oil
While some essential oils can be added to food, drinks, and capsules, Tea Tree oil is intended for topical and aromatic use only.
Do store Tea Tree oil safely
Keep Tea Tree oil out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion and spills. Since Tea Tree oil is flammable, you should also store it at or below room temperature and avoid using it near fire, flame, heat, or sparks.
Where to buy Tea Tree essential oil
When shopping for Tea Tree essential oil, keep in mind that not all essential oils are created equal. Crafting authentic, ethically sourced essential oils and blends requires time and money. Because of this, some manufacturers cut costs by putting alcohol or other additives in their essential oils. To ensure you get the same high-quality essential oils every time, we hold ourselves to a rigorous set of standards. Our Seed to Seal® quality commitment means we take care to give you the most potent essential oils possible, starting with high-quality seeds and ending with third-party testing before carefully sealing each bottle.
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