Tea Tree.

Every well-kept cabinet has one bottle that gets reached for more than the rest. Tea tree is that bottle: clean, bracing and green, the scent of a freshly scrubbed room with the window open.

This oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia in Australia, organically produced though not certified. It has a long reputation in aromatherapy, and it is an oil that rewards restraint: it is far too harsh to use neat on the skin, and we recommend it only in weak dilutions. In a blend it pairs with Atlas Cedarwood, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint and Rosemary.

Details

• Botanical name: Melaleuca alternifolia
• Origin: Australia
• Method: steam distillation of the leaves
• Organically produced, not certified
• Shelf life: about 2 to 3 years after opening

How to use

Dilute it to under 2 percent in a carrier oil before it touches the skin, or add a few drops to a diffuser. For a bracing shampoo, some add it at 5 percent and leave the lather on for three minutes before rinsing. Never use it neat, and never take it internally. Avoid topical use with diabetes or insulin resistance syndrome, since people with diabetes are more apt to have skin reactions, and especially with diabetic neuropathy. Store it in the dark and refrigerated, and decant a half-empty bottle into a smaller one to extend its shelf life.

A clean, green constant for the cabinet.