Tea Tree Oil

Essential Oil · Melaleuca alternifolia

Tea Tree Oil

The purifying medic

A crisp, medicinal essential oil steam-distilled from Australian tea tree — the classic clarifying oil, built on terpinen-4-ol, long valued for blemish-prone skin and scalp. Hover any measure to see where tea tree sits on the scale.

Strength
Strong
Strong
Medium
Soft
How forceful the aroma is. Stronger oils dominate a blend; softer ones sit quietly in the background.
Volatility
Medium
High
Medium
Low
How quickly the aroma evaporates. High-volatility notes flash off fast; low ones linger and anchor a blend.
Note
Middle
Top
Middle
Base
Where it sits in a scent's arc. Top notes greet you first; base notes are the deep, lasting foundation.
Aroma
Herbaceous
Fresh
Herbaceous
Woody
Earthy
The overall scent family — from bright and fresh through green and herbaceous to deep, woody and earthy.
The Basics

What it is

Tea tree oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a paperbark shrub native to Australia and long used by Aboriginal peoples. Its crisp, camphor-medicinal aroma comes chiefly from terpinen-4-ol.

It's the classic purifying essential oil, a familiar choice for blemish-prone skin and scalp blends. Potent and best used well-diluted, quality oils are defined by a high terpinen-4-ol and low cineole content.

Quick Facts

Botanical nameMelaleuca alternifolia
OriginAustralia
Plant partLeaves
ExtractionSteam-distilled
NoteMiddle
Main constituentTerpinen-4-ol
Also calledMelaleuca oil
Where it comes from

The Tree & The Leaf

Tea tree

The Tea Tree

A hardy Australian paperbark shrub with fine, needle-like leaves rich in aromatic oil.

Tea tree leaves

The Leaves

The slender leaves are steam-distilled to release the crisp, purifying oil.

Composition

The Aroma Profile

Tea tree's purifying character is led by terpinen-4-ol. A typical breakdown:

Terpinen-4-ol monoterpene alcohol
40%
Gamma-Terpinene monoterpene
22%
Alpha-Terpinene monoterpene
10%
Other terpenes cineole, terpinolene & more
15%
Beyond the Aroma

What defines its character:

Terpinen-4-ol
The compound behind tea tree's clarifying, purifying reputation.
Low Cineole
Quality tea tree keeps cineole low to stay gentle on skin.
Crisp, Medicinal Tone
A clean, fresh-herbaceous note for blemish-focused blends.
Why People Love It

Key Qualities

Purifying Classic

The go-to clarifying oil for blemish-prone skin.

Scalp Support

A traditional choice for clarifying, refreshing the scalp.

Crisp Freshness

A clean, medicinal note that signals purity.

In Our Formulations

How we use it

Tea tree is our classic purifying note — we use it well-diluted where a blend wants a clarifying edge for blemish-prone skin and scalp.

Because it's potent, a little goes a long way, always carried in a base oil rather than used neat.

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