Tea Tree: Essential Oil, Liquid Soap and Shaving Soap

Tea tree is the plant Melaleuca alternifolia: that is the name printed on the NOW essential oil and on the Tea Tree Therapy liquid soap. We carry it in three forms: an essential oil, a liquid soap and a shaving soap. Here is what each one contains and how to use it, as described on its label.

Essential oil: NOW Tea Tree, 1 oz

It is a “1 fl. oz. (30 mL)” bottle. The front says “100% pure”, “tea tree” and “Melaleuca alternifolia”.

• Ingredient: “Ingredient: 100% pure tea tree oil.”
• Aroma: “Aroma: Potent, warm, spicy.”
• Attributes of the oil: “Attributes: Cleansing, purifying, renewing.”
• How it is obtained: “Extraction Method: Steam Distilled from leaves and twigs.”
• Quality: “NOW® Essential Oils are analytically tested for identity, purity and adulteration to assure the highest quality.”
• A room blend: “Purifying Room Blend: Add 1 drop each of tea tree oil and grapefruit oil, along with 10 drops of lemon oil to a diffuser and enjoy.”
• Who makes it: “Quality Tested by & Packaged for NOW Foods, Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA” and “Packaged in the USA.”

How to use it. Its suggested use separates two things: aromatherapy, and any other use, always diluted first. Word for word:

“Suggested Use: For aromatherapy use. For all other uses, carefully dilute with a carrier oil such as jojoba, grapeseed, olive, or almond oil prior to use. Please consult an essential oil book or other professional reference source for suggested dilution ratios.”

You can find it here: Essential oil: NOW Tea Tree, 1 oz.

Liquid soap: Tea Tree Therapy, 8 oz

It is an “8 fl. oz. / 236 ml” bottle. The front says “LIQUID SOAP” and “with TEA TREE OIL for FACE, HANDS and BODY”.

• How it describes itself: “Working gently without drying the skin, it leaves skin noticeably clean and feeling good.”
• How to use it: “Directions: Wet hands and apply a small amount of soap. Work into a rich lather and gently cleanse hands and face. Avoid contact with the eyes.”
• Ingredients: “Ingredients: Deionized Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate/LG, Coco Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Allantoin, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Extracts of: Chamomile, Calendula, and Elder flower, Tea Tree Oil (Oil of Melaleuca alternifolia), Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Lemongrass Oil.” Among them are aloe vera leaf extract, extracts of chamomile, calendula and elder flower, tea tree oil (oil of Melaleuca alternifolia) and lemongrass oil.
• External use: “FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY”
• Who makes it: “Made in USA with domestic and globally sourced components and ingredients. Dist. by Tea Tree Therapy Inc., Ventura, CA 93003”

You can find it here: Liquid soap: Tea Tree Therapy, 8 oz.

Shaving soap: Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree, 7 oz

It is a “7 FL OZ / 207mL” bottle from Dr. Bronner's, “FAMILY SOAPMAKERS SINCE 1858”. The front says “TEA TREE ORGANIC SHAVING SOAP” and “SMOOTH & MOISTURIZING”. The back says: “Get a close, comfortable shave with plant-based ingredients that moisturize and nourish the skin!”

• Ingredients, with their marks: “INGREDIENTS: Organic Sucrose*, Organic White Grape Juice, Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Palm Kernel Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide†, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Shikakai Powder, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Tea Tree Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Tocopherol”
• What the asterisk means: “*CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS”
• What the dagger means: “† None remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin.”
• The tea tree: it is on the list as “Organic Tea Tree Oil”, with no asterisk.
• How to use it: “DIRECTIONS: Apply to wet skin, massage to lather, shave and rinse.”
• What it prints about the whole product: “CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE” and “Contains at least 55% Fair Trade ingredients (Fair Trade Certified by IMO)”, plus “Oregon Tilth Certified Organic” and the USDA Organic seal.
• Who makes it: “Developed & distributed by Dr. Bronner's, P.O. Box 1958, Vista, CA 92085”

You can find it here: Shaving soap: Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree, 7 oz.

How they differ

• The NOW oil is pure tea tree oil. Its suggested use is aromatherapy; for any other use, it is diluted first in a carrier oil.
• The Tea Tree Therapy liquid soap has tea tree oil among other ingredients. It is for washing the face, hands and body, and it is for external use only.
• The Dr. Bronner's shaving soap has organic tea tree oil among other ingredients. It is applied to wet skin for shaving and then rinsed off.

The attributes “Cleansing, purifying, renewing” are the ones printed on the NOW oil; the soaps do not print them.

Label warnings

NOW essential oil, in the order it prints them:

• “Natural essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used with care.”
• “Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes. If pregnant or nursing, consult your health care practitioner before using. Not for internal use.”

Tea Tree Therapy liquid soap, in the order it prints them:

• “Avoid contact with the eyes.”
• “FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY”

Questions

• Is the NOW oil taken by mouth? No. Its caution says “Not for internal use.”
• What oil is it diluted with? Its suggested use names four carrier oils: jojoba, grapeseed, olive or almond. For the ratio, it refers you to an essential oil book or other professional reference source.
• Which parts is the liquid soap for? The face, hands and body: “for FACE, HANDS and BODY”.
• How does the tea tree come in each one? In the NOW oil, “100% pure tea tree oil”. In the liquid soap, “Tea Tree Oil (Oil of Melaleuca alternifolia)”. In the shaving soap, “Organic Tea Tree Oil”.
• What is the NOW oil obtained from? From the leaves and twigs, steam distilled: “Steam Distilled from leaves and twigs”.

Where to find them

• Essential oil: NOW Tea Tree, 1 oz, in Pure essential oils.
• Liquid soap: Tea Tree Therapy, 8 oz, in Natural Soaps.
• Shaving soap: Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree, 7 oz, in skin care products.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458.