Kunzea.

Cattle and wild animals rest close to this Tasmanian shrub, the story goes, because it seems to keep ticks away, and so it is called tick bush; it is also known as spring flower bush. Kunzea is a native Australian oil, and Tasmanian aromatherapists hold it in especially high regard.

This is the original Du Cane kunzea, developed and grown by John Hood in Tasmania and steam-distilled from the flowering branches of Kunzea ambigua. It is grown organically, though without certification. The scent opens medicinal, led by high levels of cineole and alpha-pinene, then softens on the dry-down to a subtly spicy note. In The Blossoming Heart, Robbi Zeck writes of it as an oil of emotional release.

Details

• Botanical name: Kunzea ambigua
• Origin: Tasmania, organically grown (not certified)
• Method: steam-distilled from the flowering branches
• Blends with: other Australian oils, especially rosalina and the lemon-scented oils; lavender for skin care
• Shelf life: about 2 to 3 years after opening

How to use

Diffuse it with rosalina or a lemon-scented Australian oil, or blend it with lavender in a carrier for skin care. Robert Tisserand advises that there are no known hazards. Store in the dark, refrigerated, and decant half-full bottles into smaller, full ones.

A wild Tasmanian bush, for your own quiet shelf.