A BOTANICAL PROFILE

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Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Melaleuca alternifolia

Chemotype: terpinen-4-ol type

herbaceouswoodyfreshpepperyspicycamphoraceous
PLANT PART
leaves and terminal branchlets
EXTRACTION
steam distillation
AROMA NOTE
top

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LEARN AS YOU COMPARE

What’s inside this oil?

Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

herbaceouswoodyfreshpepperyspicycamphoraceous
Aroma intensity
60 / 100
Soft & subtleBold & expressive
Note layer
top
Approximate tenacity
3–8 hours

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A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY

Using it thoughtfully

Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.

Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
15%
Phototoxicity
Not flagged in this profile
Oxidation risk
high

A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.

Not phototoxic. Tisserand & Young give a dermal maximum of 15% (based on oxidation/sensitization of oxidized oil). Oxidized tea tree is a well-documented sensitizer.

Contraindications & cautions

  • minorOld or oxidized tea tree oil should be avoided because oxidation increases sensitization risk.
Read the complete safety guide
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches

A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT

Inside the oil

14 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

ISO monograph defines tea tree oil as terpinen-4-ol type with terpinen-4-ol and gamma-terpinene as dominant markers; cineole is controlled upward.

ConstituentTypical amountReported rangeChemical familySource
terpinen-4-ol
41.5%
35–48%monoterpene alcohol
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 155 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
gamma-terpinene
21%
14–28%monoterpene hydrocarbon
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 153 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
alpha-terpinene
9%
6–12%monoterpene hydrocarbon
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 149 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
1,8-cineole
5%
0–10%monoterpene oxide
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 152 (p. 2 / PDF p.5); public review summaries describe 1,8-cineole as trace to 10%, so pct_typical is set to the midpoint of that working range because no distinct typical value is published
terpinolene
3.25%
1.5–5%monoterpene hydrocarbon
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 154 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
p-cymene
4.25%
0.5–8%monoterpene hydrocarbon
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 151 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
alpha-terpineol
3.5%
2–5%monoterpene alcohol
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 156 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
alpha-pinene
2.5%
1–4%monoterpene hydrocarbon
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 147 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
delta-Cadinene
1.5%
0–8%Sesquiterpenes
View source

ISO 4730 via Carson et al. 2006 Table 1 (trace-8%)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1360273/
Aromadendrene
1.5%
0–7%Sesquiterpenes
View source

ISO 4730 via Carson et al. 2006 Table 1 (trace-7%)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1360273/
limonene
1%
0.5–1.5%monoterpene hydrocarbon
View source

ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil)

Table 2, line 150 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)
Sabinene
0.5%
0–3.5%Monoterpenes
View source

ISO 4730 via Carson et al. 2006 Table 1 (trace-3.5%)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1360273/
Globulol
0.5%
0–3%Sesquiterpenols
View source

ISO 4730 via Carson et al. 2006 Table 1 (trace-3%)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1360273/
Viridiflorol
0.3%
0–1.5%Sesquiterpenols
View source

ISO 4730 via Carson et al. 2006 Table 1 (trace-1.5%)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1360273/

Profile source: ISO 4730:2017 Essential oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil) · Table 2, lines 143-162 (p. 2 / PDF p.5)