Home Page > Essential Oil Profiles > Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree is must-have oil to keep on hand for a wide array of applications. See the Tea Tree Oil Uses section below for a laundry list of applications for Tea Tree Oil.

The aroma is medicinal, but many become fond (or at the very least, tolerant) to the aroma after becoming accustomed to it. Do consider trying Manuka Essential Oil if you cannot tolerate the aroma of Tea Tree Oil.

Although many authors and educators have expressely stated that Tea Tree Essential Oil can be applied to the skin undiluted, it is prudent to not heed this advice. Less is more. For a detailed explanation, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils.

Tea Tree Oil

Botanical Name: Melaleuca alternifolia Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled Color: Clear with a Yellow Tinge Consistency: Thin Perfumery Note: Middle Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium

Aromatic Description: Tea Tree Oil is medicinal, fresh, woody, earthy, herbaceous.

	Tea Tree

Tea Tree Oil Uses: Acne, athlete's foot, candida, chicken pox, cold sores, colds, corns, cuts, flu, insect bites, itching, migraine, oily skin, ringworm, sinusitis, sores, spots, urethritis, warts, whooping cough. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]

Constituents: Terpinen-4-ol, Alpha-Terpineol, Cineole, Pinene, Alpha Terpenene, Beta-Caryophyllene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]

Safety Information: Tea Tree Oil may cause sensitization in some. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 168.]

Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using Tea Tree Oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 211.]

Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

General Safety Information: Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Essential Oil Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on essential oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs. 

< Return to Essential Oil Profile Index

	Own Detailed Profiles on 160 Essential Oils The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless contains 160 detailed essential oil profiles complete with beautiful color photos.  Read a review of this book or purchase this book through Amazon.com. Also consider... Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals In addition to the eight main chapters contained within the book, Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals also includes over 65 detailed oil monographs (profiles) and over 30 appendices.  Read a review of this book or purchase this book through Amazon.com.