What is tea tree oil good for?

Tea tree oil acts as an antifungal and antiseptic. It can be used to treat athlete's foot (tinea pedis), toenail fungal infections (onychomycosis), and acne and may be beneficial (but there is no good scientific proof) for treating cuts, burns, dandruff, skin infections, eczema, psoriasis, and skin tags.

Does tea tree oil remove dark spots?

Tea tree oil doesn't appear to be effective for removing dark spots. However, it could help prevent dark spots from developing by reducing acne breakouts and inflammation.

Why can't you put tea tree oil directly on skin?

Putting undiluted tea tree oil directly on the skin may lead to skin reactions and toxicity symptoms like excessive drowsiness, poor concentration, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Does tea tree oil repel mosquitos?

Research suggests that tea tree oil may be more effect that DEET at repelling mosquitos.

The 6 Best Tea Tree Oils of 2021

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Native to Australia, tea tree oil is a versatile product that can be the star of your beauty routine. From a remedy for acne to a treatment for athlete's foot, this natural anti-fungal should be a staple in your medicine cabinet.

When choosing a tea tree oil, it's important to think about your specific skincare concerns and goals. Tea tree oil can be added to face washes, shampoos, oil diffusers, and more. Consider where you'll be applying the product and what type may be most convenient for you. For example, if you're looking for help with flaky scalp and dandruff, then a shampoo may be the best choice.

We researched dozens of tea tree oil products and evaluated them based on the amount of tea tree oil, product type, prices, and uses. Ahead, you’ll find six of the best tea tree oils to choose from to meet all your daily beauty needs.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Tea Tree Therapy 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil at Amazon

This is a great pick for everything from cuts to stings.

Best Budget:

Sun Essential Oils Tea Tree at Amazon

It provides high-quality, harvested ingredients alongside the most soothing scent for less.

Best Shampoo:

Maple Holistics Tea Tree Oil Shampoo at Amazon

It has a nutrient-rich formula designed to treat itchy, flaky scalps.

Best Face Wash:

Era Organics Tea Tree Oil Face Cleanser at Amazon

This helps balance skin, shrink pimples, and eliminate redness.

Best for Cleaning:

Handcraft Blends Tea Tree Essential Oil at Amazon

It helps reduce bathroom mold, kitchen counter germs, and more.

Best for Diffusion:

doTERRA Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Essential Oil at Amazon

It has a cleansing, relaxing scent.

Tea Tree Therapy 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil

New to tea tree oil? This Tea Tree Therapy Oil is a great place to start. You can use this product for acne treatment, sunburns, and itchy bug bites. Plus, it’s a natural antiseptic, so it doesn’t hurt to always have it handy.

Before you explore more specific kinds of oils, it would be wise to initially stick with this basic choice. Then, you can adjust and integrate other formulas depending on your needs. Additionally, this product is gentle to the skin and heals without irritating your body.

It's a great option for a wide range of uses, from creating your own acne masks at home to adding it to your favorite shampoo to minimize dandruff.

Sun Essential Oils Tea Tree Essential Oil

If you’re running low on funds, but don’t want to give up your daily dose of relaxation, the Sun Essential Oils Tea Tree Oil is your answer. The brand provides high-quality, harvested ingredients alongside the most soothing scent for less.

All in all, it’s aromatherapy without the pricey trip to the spa. In addition, it comes in several sizes and of course, the more you buy, the more you save.

If you’re dissatisfied with your current hair products, a switch to the Maple Holistics Pure Tea Tree Oil Shampoo may be what you need. It will help those with itchy dandruff and it can even be used for something as serious as head lice.

On top of that, this formula hydrates the scalp leaving your hair looking and feeling healthier. A refresh is exactly what you’ll get with this choice. It may also be helpful as a hair growth therapy for men, women, and children. Thanks to this tea tree oil-infused product, you can help revive tired, thinning strands and have luscious locks in no time.

If you’re struggling with acne, rosacea, or a dry and oily complexion, you’re in desperate need of the Era Organics Tea Tree Oil Face Cleanser. The tea tree oil is effective in achieving rejuvenated skin that will make you feel like a new person.

Not only will this cleanser prevent pimples and other imperfections, but it will also smoothen your skin to the touch. No need to worry about parabens, sulfates, or odd perfumes, either—it’s completely organic.

The Handcraft Blends Tea Tree Essential Oil has a quality guarantee as each bottle is tested by an independent lab to ensure only the best, most effective formula. This also ensures no fillers or additives have been incorporated into the oil.

Moreover, the brand’s bottle is top-notch. The oil comes in an amber glass vessel that keeps out UV rays and protects the formula from sunlight. To make sure you don’t waste any of the precious oils, the bottle includes a glass dropper that will allow you to get just the right amount.

Essential oil diffusers are all the rage these days, and the doTERRA Melaleuca Essential Oil should be at the top of your list. Once in the air, this scent is described as herbaceous and leathery. All you have to do is add between one to three drops into your air diffuser and you’ll be feeling (and smelling) the cleansing effects in seconds.

Final Verdict

Overall, tea tree oil is useful for your body and mind. When you’re first finding your way through the formulas, the Tea Tree Therapy 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil available on Amazon is a solid beginner oil. Relaxation benefits are the other major advantage of tea tree oil. Grab a diffuser and try the doTERRA Melaleuca Essential Oil. With everything going on this year, the aromatherapy behind the oils is exactly what we all need.

What to Look for in a Tea Tree Oil

All-Natural

There are a lot of not-so-natural products out there. When searching for proper tea tree oils, it’s important to pay attention to the label and scan the specific ingredients within the product. You should avoid all GMOs and parabens as all-natural bottles smell better, are more soothing, and will leave you with way more health benefits. Trust us, it’s worth taking the extra few minutes to check out a product’s fine print.

Type

As you can see, tea tree oil is incorporated into all kinds of products. From shampoo to soap, and more, there are tons of ways to bring it into your beauty routine. Regardless of how you use it, there’s no denying its effects. Keep an eye out and be open to the array of options available to you.

Dropper

Look for the bottle with a dropper. While many of them come with this feature, it’s not always guaranteed. The dropper is a game-changer for applying the oil. Not only does it make things easier, but more importantly, you’ll be able to control the amount and in the end, waste less of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tea tree oil good for?

Tea tree oil acts as an antifungal and antiseptic. It can be used to treat athlete's foot (tinea pedis), toenail fungal infections (onychomycosis), and acne and may be beneficial (but there is no good scientific proof) for treating cuts, burns, dandruff, skin infections, eczema, psoriasis, and skin tags.

Learn More: The Health Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
Does tea tree oil remove dark spots?

Tea tree oil doesn't appear to be effective for removing dark spots. However, it could help prevent dark spots from developing by reducing acne breakouts and inflammation.
Why can't you put tea tree oil directly on skin?

Putting undiluted tea tree oil directly on the skin may lead to skin reactions and toxicity symptoms like excessive drowsiness, poor concentration, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Does tea tree oil repel mosquitos?

Research suggests that tea tree oil may be more effect that DEET at repelling mosquitos.

Why Trust Verywell Health

As a seasoned health writer, Isis Briones knows the importance of finding products that work best for you and your conditions. You can count on her to always provide a variety of recommendations from licensed medical professionals because she has tested and reviewed tons of products over the years to know everyone is different.

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2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Pazyar N, Yaghoobi R, Bagherani N, Kazerouni A. A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. Int J Dermatol. 2013;52(7):784-790. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05654.x.
Adams TF, Wongchai C, Chaidee A, Pfeiffer W. “Singing in the Tube”--audiovisual assay of plant oil repellent activity against mosquitoes (Culex pipiens). Parasitol Res. 2016;115(1):225-239. doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4739-x.