Tea Tree Oil is extracted from a plant grown primarily in Austraila (Tea Tree grows in other areas of the south pacific, however primary producer of the essential oil distilled from the plant).
Wikipedia writes about this:
The indigenous Bundjalung people of eastern Australia use “tea trees” as a traditional medicine by inhaling the oils from the crushed leaves to treat coughs and colds. They also sprinkle leaves on wounds, after which a poultice is applied. In addition, tea tree leaves are soaked to make an infusion to treat sore throats or skin ailments.
Use of the oil itself, as opposed to the un-extracted plant material, did not become common practice until researcher Arthur Penfold published the first reports of its antimicrobial activity in a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity of M. alternifolia, tea tree oil was rated as 11 times more active than phenol.
The commercial tea tree oil industry was born after the medicinal properties of the oil were first reported by Penfold in the 1920s. It was produced from natural bush stands of M. alternifolia that produced oil with the appropriate chemotype. The plant material was hand cut and often distilled on the spot in makeshift, mobile, wood-fired bush stills.Production ebbed after World War II, as demand for the oil declined, presumably due to the development of effective antibiotics and the waning image of natural products. Interest in the oil was rekindled in the 1970s as part of the general renaissance of interest in natural products. Commercial plantations were established in the 1970s and 1980s, which led to mechanization and large-scale production of a consistent essential oil product.
Although tea tree oil normally is extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia commercially, it can also be extracted from Melaleuca dissitiflora and Melaleuca linariifolia.
Research of tea tree indicates this essential oil has some amazing properties, including beneficial medical properties when applied topically, including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities.
Steve set about researching and developed a soap that utilizes tea tree essential oil as the star ingredient. The soap is a mild cold processed formula blend of coconut, palm and olive oil, with interesting ingredients like wild tussah silk fibers (they dissolve in the lye water, creating a very silky luxurious
Tea Tree Soap is a luxurious soap for the whole body because of the amazing ingredients in this soap. A cold processed soap made from all plant based ingredients and scented with eucalyptus, lavender, star anise and tea tree essential oil. Research of tea tree indicates this essential oil has some amazing properties, including beneficial medical properties when applied topically, including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities.
Our soap utilizes plant based oils and lye, and essential oil to create a soft and gentle soap for your skin. Lathers well, individually packaged bars assure freshness to you. The soap is moisturizing because we super-fat every recipe… that means when you wash with our soap a small amount of oil is replenishing your skin’s moisture.
Each bar is individually wrapped in a light wax paper wrapper, banded with our label. We love the way our packaging keeps the bar wrapped until you want to use it.
Ingredients: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride (Lye), Water, Eucalyptus EO, Lavender EO, Star Anise EO, Tea Tree EO, Tussah Silk Fibers, Ground Oatmeal, Almond Milk.