Name : Tea Tree ( Ti Tree is a mis-spelling and refers to another tree species in New Zealand )
Method : Steam distillation
Note Classification : Top
Scent : Menthol, slight citrus, spicy, fresh, clean
Colour : Pale yellow-green or colourless
Species : Melaleuca alternifolia. Family Myrtaceae
Extracted From : Leaves and twigs
Region : Richmond River basin, New South Wales, Australia
By-products : -
Historical : Used extensively by aborigines before Captain Cook used the name tea tree to refer to the leaves of a Leptospermum ( similar genus to Melaleuca ) from which he brewed a tea drink. It was referred to as spicy and refreshing. There are over three hundred varieties of tea tree throughout Australia, but only one has truly outstanding medicinal properties - Melaleuca Alternifolia. The key properties of this variety are a high terpinene-4-ol component and a low cineol component ( which is a skin irritant ). Much research has been done into the properties of tea tree, perhaps more than any other essential oil. It is now widely recognised by the scientific community as a powerful tool against a variety of infectious organisms. Mr. W. R. Penfold in 1930 found it to be 11 to 13 times stronger than carbolic ( carbolic acid or phenol, C6-H5-OH ) as a germicide.
Of Interest : Tea Tree oil has made a bit of a comeback recently - it can be found in a wide range of cosmetics and shampoos.
Aromatherapy Properties : Strong antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, fungicidal properties. Used for a variety of skin complaints eg. athlete's foot, boils, herpes, ulcers, psoriasis, warts.
Blends Well With : clary sage, lemon, lavender, rosemary
Chemical Analysis : terpinene-4-ol 30% + cineol, pinene, terpinenes, cymene, sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene alcohols
Safety Data : Non-toxic but occasionally sensitizing. Can be used undiluted on small areas of skin if care is taken