Tea tree essential oil: freshness and everyday skin hygiene

A lively, slightly camphor-like scent that instantly says "clean": tea tree essential oil has earned a spot in many bathrooms. It works well in a diffuser and in simple cosmetic routines, provided you follow a few basic rules. Here is what to know before you open the bottle.

What is tea tree?

Despite its name, the tea tree has nothing to do with the plant that gives us black or green tea. It is Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree of the myrtle family – like eucalyptus and clove – native to Australia.

According to the product sheet, our tea tree essential oil is obtained by distilling the leaf and comes in a 10 ml bottle. In our classification it belongs to the monoterpenol chemical family. To understand what these families mean and why they guide how an oil is used, see our sheet on essential oil families.

How to use it

Our drugstore team recommends two ways: diffusing it into the air, or applying it to the skin, always diluted.

In a diffuser

• Add a few drops to a diffuser designed for essential oils, following the device's instructions.
• Diffuse in short sessions of 15 to 20 minutes, then take a break and air the room.
• If you find the note a little medicinal, blend it with a citrus oil to soften it.

Diluted, in your hygiene routine

• Mix one drop of essential oil with a teaspoon of vegetable oil or a small dab of neutral cream.
• Do a patch test in the crook of your elbow first and wait 24 hours to check that your skin tolerates it.
• Then apply to a small area of clean skin, away from the eye area and mucous membranes, for a pleasant feeling of freshness.
• Alternatively, add one drop to a single dose of neutral shower gel as you use it – never to the whole bottle.

Precautions

Read before use. As the product sheet points out, using this essential oil requires the advice of a specialist. Never apply it undiluted to large areas and never swallow it. Avoid contact with the eyes. Ask for advice before use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for a child, or if you are taking medication. Keep the bottle tightly closed, away from light and heat and out of the reach of children.

Our products

• Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), 10 ml bottle – check the documentation tab on the product page before first use.

In short

Tea tree is an essential oil with character: a few drops are enough to scent a room or round off a hygiene routine, as long as it is diluted. Not sure about dilution, blending or whether it suits your situation? Visit us at Droguerie Perusset in Yverdon-les-Bains – our team will be happy to advise you.