How to Use Tea Tree Oil
Fresh. Sharp. Invigorating. We’ve always thought of tea tree essential oil as a wonderful wake up call for the senses.
Our co-founder Brad forged a special bond with farmers in Australia who’ve grown tea trees for generations, and we’ve sourced this lively pure essential oil there for decades. Today, we feature it in many of our best-selling and beloved products.
Tea tree essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and small branches of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. After Captain Cook struck land in Australia in 1775, he used the leaves of this tree to make tea, and the tree soon became known by that name. (Thanks, Captain.) But long before he ever brewed that first cup, the Aboriginal people along the coast of eastern Australia knew of its healing powers: they used it to crush the leaves into a paste to apply to wounds.
What does tea tree oil help with?
The health benefits of tea tree oil have been revered in its native Australia for thousands of years. It may have natural antiseptic properties, although researchers are still studying it to discover how powerful it may actually be. Due to its rumored properties, it is often recommended as a treatment for various skin conditions. However, if you are dealing with itchy, swollen, or painful skin, or any other condition, you should seek professional medical attention, and certainly talk to your doctor before using any essential oil. Essential oils are often sold as “gentle” but they are highly concentrated and powerful. They have the potential to cause irritation, especially when used directly on the skin. Tea tree oil, in particular, has the potential to cause burns if applied undiluted. As with any essential oil, tea tree must always be diluted in a gentle carrier oil before use.
While it should not be used in an attempt to treat or cure any medical condition, when properly diluted or used as an ingredient in products that have been tested for safety, tea tree essential oil offers amazing aromatherapy benefits. The scent is energizing and reviving, sharing many properties with eucalyptus, but with a more subtle and complex scent.
Herbal and slightly spicy, tea tree pure essential oil has a clean, crisp green aroma that helps refresh your senses. Read on for the top 5 tea tree oil benefits.
1. Use tea tree oil in your home cleaning products
Many of us prefer not to use harsh chemical cleansers around the house wherever possible. Tea tree tree oil makes a great addition to your homemade cleaning solutions: it will also leave your space smelling amazing.
Use the clarifying scent of tea tree oil to help brighten your homemade products. Make a refreshing bathroom spray by mixing 4 ounces water, 4 ounces vinegar, 6 - 10 drops of tea tree essential oil, and 3 - 7 drops peppermint. Spray and wipe down surfaces for a fresh, bright-smelling bathroom.
2. A natural boost with tea tree oil for skin
Note, use caution when using tea tree oil, or any essential oil, on your face or skin. Tea tree is especially strong. Undiluted oils can be harsh on your skin. You should also check with your doctor before using essential oils on your skin. Be very conservative when incorporating tea tree into your routine.
If given the OK from your doctor, the proper dilution of tea tree oil for face treatments depends on how you plan to use it. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to your face oil, wash, or toner. In seconds, you’ve added a clarifying boost to your skincare routine. Create a simple face masque by mixing 2 drops of tea tree essential oil with 1 ounce of aloe vera gel. Just blend, smooth onto your face, and rinse with cool water.
Tea Tree Oil for Acne
Some natural beauty and skincare articles talk about using tea tree oil for acne. As always, this is advice that you should take with a grain of salt. Skin that is irritated and inflamed with acne may be too sensitive to tolerate even diluted tea tree oil, and you do not want to risk causing damage or making the problem worse. You should talk to your dermatologist before considering adding tea tree oil to a skincare routine for acne-prone skin.
3. Tea tree oil remedies for dry scalp
Tea tree oil is sometimes recommended as a scalp tonic. It will certainly leave your hair smelling fresh and clean. Tea tree oil benefits for hair and scalp are still under research, but we can’t deny that it makes a wonderful aromatherapeutic addition to your hair care regimen: we’ve added it to our shampoos and conditioners.
Help restore skin’s moisture and awaken your senses with this simple tea tree oil remedy for any morning that needs a boost: Mix 2 drops of rosemary and 2 drops of tea tree essential oil with 1 ounce of jojoba oil. Massage into your scalp and leave on for 15 minutes before showering. Short on time? Just add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner.
4. Tea tree oil for first aid
Never use any essential oil on irritated, red or broken skin. We always recommend that you see your doctor for an expert opinion on any potentially serious skin issue. Rashes, eczema, severe itching, redness, cracked skin, or bleeding are signs you should seek immediate medical attention.
In mild cases of itching caused by everyday issues such as dry winter skin, a bug bite or a healing sunburn, a drop or two of tea tree oil in your ointment or moisturizer may help to make you more comfortable, if your doctor gives you the OK.
Tea tree oil is sometimes suggested as a treatment for burns. You should never put any essential oil on a blistering burn. As your skin is healing, you can use a gentle moisturizer (sometimes unscented is best) to keep it soft and nourished.
Tea tree essential oil has been suggested as a remedy for foot fungus. There’s no real evidence that tea tree is effective: it may be more useful better as a preventative measure than as a cure.
5. Diffuse a room with tea tree essential oils
You don’t need to use tea tree oil on your skin to receive many of its benefits. Aromatherapy is a big part of the appeal of this wonderful oil. The clear, sharp scent of tea tree essential oil can help brighten any room with its aromatherapy benefits, adding a touch of inspiration for the senses. Try adding 1 or 2 drops of tea tree to your diffuser and enjoy the refreshing scent.
6. Make your hands, hair, and body happy: tea tree oil the easy way
We think it’s exciting and empowering to make your own tea tree oil recipes and blends to enrich your life, but we know not everyone has the time, inclination, or confidence to mix up blended solutions themselves. That’s absolutely fine: there are many ways to nurture yourself! It’s why we decided to create our line of products in the first place.
Using a professionally blended and tested product can help you avoid any potential risks of using essential oils like tea tree. Many people ask “Can I rub tea tree oil on my skin?” You should never rub any undiluted essential oil directly on your skin. These potent oils are so concentrated that they can easily cause irritation or adverse skin reactions. As we mentioned before, tea tree oil has the potential to cause burns on sensitive skin if it is used without being diluted. Before using tea tree essential oil, be sure to dilute it appropriately using a carrier oil such as jojoba or olive oil.
Even diluted, if you have never used tea tree oil before, you may want to consider doing a “patch test” on a small area of skin before using it. This way, if you are one of the unlucky few who are allergic to tea tree oil, you will find out before it’s too late!
The easiest way to get the benefits of tea tree oil aromatherapy is to simply use a ready-made product made with tea tree essential oil. Try hand soaps, natural deodorants, shampoos, and conditioners made with this bright, refreshing, and nurturing scent.
Ready to give tea tree oil a try? Here are some of our favorite products that contain this amazing essential oil!
The content in this post has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Essential oils are meant to enhance your well being; they are not medical cures. None of the information in this blog is meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any conditions. If you are suffering from a medical issue, seek the advice of your medical professional.
