How to Use Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea Tree is one of the best known essential oils, and it’s the one that got me started. Years ago, I was looking for ways to help my daughter with her ear issues. That’s how I first came across Tea Tree and started learning about essential oils.

There are a few ways to use Tea Tree, from adding its fresh, herbal scent to a diffuser blend to using it in skin care. If you’re here for the yoga mat spray, let’s start there!

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Yoga Mat Spray

Tea Tree and Lavender are the two oils I used in my original yoga mat spray. Tea Tree has a fresh, herbal scent, and Lavender adds a little floral scent to the mix.

Check your mat’s care instructions first. If your mat allows a scented spray, look for one formulated for your mat material. Spot test a small area before first use, wipe the mat clean, and let it dry before rolling it up. If your mat calls for a damp cloth, that makes for an easy cleanup after class, too.

What Is Tea Tree Essential Oil?

Tea Tree comes from Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. The leaves are collected and steam distilled to produce the oil.

Have you ever crushed a peppermint leaf between your fingers? That minty smell comes from the aromatic compounds in the leaf. Essential oils are concentrated extracts of aromatic compounds from plants.

Tea Tree Diffuser Blend Recipes

Tea Tree has a strong herbal scent. I like pairing it with something minty, floral, or citrusy. Here are three combinations to try. Adjust the total number of drops to suit your diffuser’s directions.

Herbal Bliss

• 2 drops Tea Tree
• 2 drops Peppermint
• 2 drops Lavender

Fresh Air

• 2 drops Lemon
• 2 drops Tea Tree
• 2 drops Lime

Tea Tree and Lemon

• 2 drops Tea Tree
• 2 drops Lemon
• 3 drops doTERRA Breathe blend

How to Use Tea Tree Essential Oil on Your Skin

Topical use simply means using an oil on your skin. For Tea Tree, you can choose a skin care product that already contains it or dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil according to the label. Fractionated coconut oil is my favorite carrier oil, but jojoba is another option.

If you’re curious about Tea Tree for your scalp or complexion, look for a shampoo or facial cleanser formulated with it. It’s a simple way to try it in a product you already use in your routine.

Essential Beard Oil

Tea Tree and Cedarwood are a nice pairing if you like a woodsy scent. For a beard oil, jojoba and fractionated coconut oil are both options for the base. Choose a blend formulated for facial use, or follow the facial dilution directions for both oils if you’re making your own. A little goes a long way.

Want more ideas for using essential oils? Visit my Essential Oils page or shop doTERRA essential oils.

One quick note. Follow the directions on your bottle, including dilution for skin use. Keep Tea Tree oil away from eyes and ear canals, and out of reach of children and pets.