Pure Essential Oil of Tea Tree is one of the few Essential Oils that can be used undiluted on the skin.
Generally it is very well tolerated and causes little irritation other than on broken skin. However, it is vital to use a good quality oil - if in any doubt consult a qualified Aromatherapist.
As a guide, any quality essential oil must be in an amber glass bottle to protect it from the light.
It is an accepted industry standard that bottles must have a screw cap containing a dropper insert. This insert allows you to dispense oil one drop at a time, but if the bottle falls into the hands of a child (or is knocked over) most of the contents of the bottle will be retained.
It is also an industry standard that the label on the bottle should include wording such as "Keep away from eyes and children. Do not take internally or apply undiluted to the skin. Put 6 drops in a bath or 5 drops in 10ml of carrier oil.". This wording is recommended in the UK by the Aromatherapy Trades Council and is compulsory for its members. It has also been agreed by them with Trading Standards at a national level.
This wording is sufficiently vague to cover all essential oils. Please note that Tea Tree Oil can be used safely undiluted in order to treat areas of specific infection.
It is also regarded by us as an indication of a reputable supplier of essential oils if every bottle is marked with a Batch Number and a Use By Date. These are the basis of modern quality control standards, and anyone omitting this information should not be regarded as a responsible supplier.
However, there is one rule that is paramount when using Tea Tree - it must be fresh!
Fresh new Tea Tree Oil is safe to use and seldom causes irritation. As the oil absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere, is exposed to light, and especially if it is stored in warm conditions, it will undergo a reaction in which one important constituent of the oil is converted to a much more irritating compound.
This means that a bathroom cabinet is not a suitable place to store bottles of Tea Tree Oil.
Neither is a window sill!
New bottles of Tea Tree Oil should be marked that they should be Used By no more than 2 years after production.
If in doubt, discard old oil - or use it as a general kitchen disinfectant.
A 10ml bottle of top quality oil certainly can be purchased for under £5. Well under!
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