Melaleuca Alternifolia, better known as Tea Tree, is a plant native to Australia. It grows to a maximum height of 6 metres and is characterised by white flowers grouped in clusters.
From the leaves, the precious essential oil is obtained through a distillation process. The active ingredients that make the essential oil so effective are terpineol and cineol.
The mature leaves are collected to distill tea tree oil. Plantations can use more than 200 tons of foliage per day.
Once distilled, the oil is stored in special containers to maintain its natural freshness until use. The manufacturing process was set up with respect for the environment.
Samples of each batch are sent to specialized laboratories for careful analysis. Batches that meet the highest quality levels are filtered and weighed to make our products.
In 1770, Captain Cook, a British Royal Navy explorer, discovered the Tea Tree plant during his voyage to circumnavigate the globe. Scouring the coast of Australia, he arrived in New South Wales, where he found plantations with aromatic leaves. The Captain and his men boiled the leaves, resulting in a drink with a spicy flavour. Cook soon discovered that the Aborigines used Tea Tree to heal wounds, treat skin infections and protect themselves from insects.
In 1920, Australian biochemist Arthur Penfold began studying the plant and discovered the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Tea Tree oil. Of the Tea Tree plant, the young leaves and twigs are harvested, from which the essential oil, a precious liquid (the yield is only 1-2% from fresh plant) of a pale yellow colour with a characteristic odour, is obtained by steam distillation. The oil can be used pure, e.g. in humidifiers or room diffusers to purify the air, or it can be mixed in cosmetic preparations of various kinds, depending on the need.
In the AUSTRALIAN COMPANY TEA TREE line, it is used both as a pure essential oil and in daily skin care products.
