The 7 Best Tea Tree Oils And How They Can Help You

Choosing the best tea tree oil might seem confusing. There are many companies out there and they often make similar claims. Some also have their own certification standards. But, there are some key things that you can look for. 

The most important consideration, by far, is the levels of terpinen-4-ol (sometimes called terpinen 4 OL). This is an antiseptic compound that naturally occurs in tea tree essential oil. 

The compound is responsible for many of the oil's benefits. A higher percentage means the antibacterial and antifungal properties are stronger. High percentages are also an indication that the oil is high-quality and other oils haven't been added in. 

Concentrations of terpinen-4-ol typically range from 10% to 45%. 

You should also be wary of any brands above 45%, as this is the natural upper limit for tea tree oil. Any oil with a higher percentage has probably been chemically modified. 

There are other areas that you can consider as well. These can all have some impact on the quality of the oil.

• The Bottle. Your oil should come in a dark brown glass bottle. This type of bottle reduces oxidation, ensuring your oil stays high quality. Light exposure also increases the levels of para-cymene, a skin irritant. That’s another reason for choosing a darker bottle.
• Organic. Organic oils may offer more benefits and higher levels of desirable compounds. This effect hasn’t been proven and choosing an organic product isn’t essential. Still, it’s an area worth considering.
• Testing. Look for brands that test their oils, particularly ones that provide details about those tests. External testing will always be better (i.e., conducted by an independent lab). But, even internal testing is an indication of the company’s focus on quality.
• Price. Price isn’t the best guide for quality. But, it’s still worth avoiding any oils that are extremely cheap. Making essential oils is an involved process. Some companies will cut corners to reduce their costs.
• Brand. Some brands are more reliable than others. In fact, companies like doTERRA and Young Living may overcharge for their oils, but they do have a strong focus on quality.
• Reviews. It’s always worth checking out the reviews for a product or brand –especially if you’re buying from Amazon. Customers often have high standards and tend to leave bad reviews if they’re not satisfied.
• Watch out for Certification, Grades and Bold Claims. There is very little regulation surrounding essential oils. You’ll often see labels like ‘therapeutic grade’, ‘pure’, ‘natural’ or ‘virgin’. These are typically based on the company’s own definitions and mean don’t mean much at all (organic is the exception, as this is regulated). There’s nothing wrong with oils that use these terms –just don’t assume that better marketing means higher-quality oil.

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: 41.7%
• Plant Therapy is similar to doTERRA and Young Living in that they have a strong focus on quality and provide details about their products
• Plant Therapy also uses external testing to ensure the quality of their oils
• The oil is also USDA organic certified, which is unusual in this field
• The price is in the middle of the range. The oil is cheaper than options from Young Living and doTERRA, but is more expensive than the larger bottles
• The oil gets good reviews, as do all of the products from Plant Therapy

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: 35.91%
• Relatively inexpensive, as you receive 120 ml of the oil per bottle
• Focuses on pure and natural concepts
• Extracted using steam distillation
• Is undiluted
• Includes a dropper, making it great for recipes, along with using on the skin and hair
• Receives consistently positive reviews

Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: 15%
• The lower terpinen-4-ol concentration means the quality may be lower. But, this may be beneficial for anyone with sensitive skin, especially as the higher concentrations are more likely to cause reactions
• Emphasis on pure and natural
• Relatively inexpensive
• Includes a 118 ml bottle and dropper
• For external use only
• Sells incredibly well on Amazon, with consistently positive reviews. However, reviews are for all oils the company sells, not just tea tree oil
• 100% natural oil, produced through steam distillation

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: 41.76%
• Another brand offering a significant amount of oil for a relatively low price
• Virgin, natural and unrefined – although the term virgin doesn’t have much meaning for essential oil
• Labeled as therapeutic grade
• Paraben and cruelty free
• A incredibly popular product that receives good reviews
• The company makes testing results easy to find and images of tests are even included on the Amazon page

doTERRA Melaleuca Essential Oil

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: Unclear.
• Considerably more expensive and a much smaller bottle
• Reviews are consistently positive (but some will be biased)
• doTERRA’s reputation strongly depends on the quality of their oils. This creates a better chance that they’ll consistently be high quality and pure
• May be worth the price for some uses, including ingestion or diffusing the oil. But, may not be if you want to use significant amounts in skin products or in your hair
• Marketing suggests the oil can be taken internally

Young Living Tea Tree

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: Unclear
• Similar style and price to doTERRA
• Labeled as therapeutic grade oil
• The company provides details about their processes on their site and retains an emphasis on quality
• May be more potent than the larger oils

• Terpinen-4-ol Concentration: 45%
• This is one of the few companies that includes the terpinen-4-ol concentration on the label. That practice should mean the concentration is consistent between batches
• The oil is popular and consistently receives good reviews on Amazon
• It is a relatively small bottle that's at a similar price to some of the larger ones

The best dose of tea tree oil varies depending on what you’re using the oil for. Some common doses include the following:

• Acne: Between 5% and 15% concentration
• Fungal Infections: Between 70% and 100% concentration
• As a Vaginal Douche: Between 1% and 40% (with medical supervision only)

However, dosage information is limited, especially as many potential uses haven’t been studied.

You can also turn to recipes and blends for guidance. These will often be designed for specific benefits and tailored over time. As such, a high-quality recipe should give you the appropriate dose for the desired outcome.

Safety Information

Tea tree oil is generally safe. It’s also a mild essential oil, so there are fewer risks than with other oils.

Nevertheless, some people do experience allergic reactions (16). To avoid this, you should dilute the oil before using it and do a patch test before applying it everywhere.

As with other essential oils, you should take care when using the oil orally. In large doses, it can be toxic and may cause side effects in smaller doses. The health benefits of oral consumption are also under heavy debate.

If you are interested in ingesting the oil, check out this post from The Hippy Homemaker. She goes into detail about what you need to consider and the risks. She also talks about ways to safely ingest essential oils if you plan to do so.