Scent Almanac
Tea Tree
Melaleuca alternifolia
Sharp, camphor-medicinal and green with a spicy, slightly musty-woody edge. It reads as 'antiseptic' more than pretty.
- Made from
- Steam-distilled from the leaves and twigs of the Australian tea tree.
- Strength
- ●●●●○
- Cost
- Budget
- Moods
- CleanRefreshing
- Seasons
- Winter, Spring
- Rooms
- Bathroom, Laundry
Cautions
- Caution around pets (especially cats and birds) — don't diffuse in their space
- Oxidizes with age — old oil is more likely to sensitize; store cool and dark
Highly toxic to cats and dogs, so never diffuse it around them or use it on them. Fresh oil is fairly gentle, but oxidized (old) tea tree is a known skin sensitizer. Store it cold, dark and tightly capped.
How it behaves
CandlesWorkable
Few people want it alone in a candle. Use it as a minor part of a eucalyptus or mint blend.
Wax meltsWorkable
Reed diffuserWorkable
Room & linen sprayGood
Electric (water) diffuserGood
Cold-process soapGood
Well behaved in cold process and holds reasonably through cure. Often paired with peppermint in 'clarifying' bars.
Melt-and-pour soapGood
Laundry & cleaningGreat
A staple of DIY cleaning sprays and laundry boosters. Soften the medicinal note with lemon, lemongrass or lavender.
Pairs well with
Eucalyptus
Top · Herbal
Essential oil
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Peppermint
Top · Herbal
Essential oil
Spearmint
Top · Herbal
Essential oil
Lemon
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Lemongrass
Middle · Citrus
Essential oil
Rosemary
Middle · Herbal
Essential oil
Atlas Cedarwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Pine
Middle · Woody
Essential oil
Don't have it? Try Eucalyptus.
In these blends
Clean Slate
The satisfying snap of a freshly cleaned house with the windows open.
Lavender · Lemon · Rosemary · Virginian Cedarwood · Tea Tree
CleanRefreshingSpringSummer
Spring Clean Citrus
Grapefruit, lime and herbs for scrubbing sinks and freshening drains.
Grapefruit · Lemongrass · Rosemary · Lime · Virginian Cedarwood · Tea Tree
CleanUpliftingSpringSummer
A little lore
Commercial tea tree oil comes mainly from plantations in northern New South Wales, Australia, where the tree grows wild.