Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) flower/leaf/stem oil
AKA: Narrow-leaved paperbark, Tea Tree Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Australian Native
Not Clean
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil is a cosmetic ingredient. Assessed as safe by the CIR.
Family
Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
Plant Part
Leaf
Lifeform
Shrub
Climate
Subtropical
CAS #
85085-48-9
Form
Oil
Functions
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Fights acne
Causing bacteria
Controls excess oil
Quells irritation
Traditional Use
Essential oil used in traditional Aboriginal medicine for wound healing and antimicrobial purposes. Commercially developed in Australia in the early 20th century and widely adopted in modern skincare for acne and fungal infections.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
2.0%
0%3%
Reg. Limit
SCCS maximum safe concentration: 2.0%. Product type: leave-on. Source: SCCS Opinion SCCS/1681/25. Dermal absorption: 3%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 823).
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Acne
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory0 listings
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: Kew POWO · CosIng · EWG · CIR