From soap to mouthwash, shampoo to facial cleansers, as well as many other applications, Tea Tree Oil is powerful, extremely versatile and renowned for its antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic and anti-viral properties.
Native Australian use of products from Melaleuca alternifolia goes back centuries but the Tea Tree oil industry as we know it today started in the 1920s, after an Australian scientist published a series of papers investigating the antimicrobial potential of a number of oils extracted from locally grown flora, with Tea Tree being one of the most promising. Shortly after this knowledge became public, the Tea Tree oil industry erupted, with raw materials being cut by hand and distilled remotely with wood-fired bush stills. During the Second World War, before the discovery of penicillin, Tea Tree oil was a must have antibacterial for Australian soldiers first aid kits.
The majority of Khush Ingredients sourcing of Tea Tree today is from the botanical Melaleuca alternifolia from Australia.
Image: Australian Tea Tree
Organic and Conventional Tea Tree Oil (Australian)
From Australia, we supply Organic and Conventional Tea Tree oil, predominantly from New South Wales. This oil is produced for Khush Ingredients on a series of large plantations, boasting over 50 years of combined experience in the Tea Tree industry. As this product is grown, harvested and distilled in the same location, the quality of the product is consistent, meaning that customers are unlikely to experience batches that have widely differing chemical or aromatic qualities.
The oils meet ISO 4730 (2017) and are independently analysed at the world expert Southern Cross University in New South Wales. For most batches, Khush Ingredients receives a full GC breakdown, a heavy metals analysis, chiral purity and a methyl eugenol analysis, required by all cosmetic producers. Our bulk customers enjoy long shelf life as the oil is supplied in food grade stainless steel drums.
Harvesting started in May and will continue to September. After a year of extreme bush fires, prices are firm and availability limited, particularly for organic oil.
Image: Australian Tea Tree
Conventional Tea Tree Oil (Chinese)
There is a lot of misunderstanding of Tea Tree oil from China. We buy directly from our producer partner who process according to the previous standard ISO 4730 (2013). Chinese oil cannot meet the tighter specification of ISO 4730 (2017) standard and is not analysed to the same depth as the premium Australian material. The cultivar is also different and produces a slightly more fragrant oil compared to Australian.
Genuine Chinese Tea Tree oil is very similar in properties and beautiful in its own way, but, it is not much lower in price, about 25%. This is mainly due to lower analytical costs, lower process control measures and more standard drums. When we hear of Chinese oils that are half the price of Australian oil, we know that this is probably not genuine Tea Tree oil and should be treated with extreme caution due to the unknown presence of methyl eugenol, a component stated as a substance of very high concern by the EU, even though it is only present in less than 0.5% levels.
Lemon Scented Tea Tree Oil (Australian)
Khush Ingredients are also able to supply Lemon Scented Tea Tree oil, sourced from Australia. Lemon Scented Tea Tree is produced from the botanical leptospermum petersonii and its main link to Tea Tree is that it likes growing in the same conditions.
A high citral content gives the strong lemony scent for this increasingly popular oil, but the price is about 5 times that of Tea Tree making it a specialist use at present.
Image: Australian Tea Tree
Organic and Conventional Tea Tree Oil (African sourced)
Several regions in southern Africa are now producing large quantities of Tea Tree oil. Khush Ingredients has investigated sources but have yet to find a quality that our customers would like with a price break making it worthwhile. We hold out most hope for African organic Tea Tree oil. Australian material is superior but limited in supply. African material is much more plentiful and available at 20% lower prices and will become an option for users, when we find a source with the right odour profile.
Are you ready to try out some genuine samples of Tea Tree from our range? Either contact sales@khushing.com to request a visit or samples@khushingredients.com to request some samples be delivered to you.
In case you didn’t see it last time, have a look at our July 2019 product of the month, Clary Sage.