What They Have Never Told You About Tea Tree Oil

Melaleuca alternifolia in bloom
Photo courtesy of Australian Tea Tree Industry Association, ATTIA

Cosmetic firms go through a lot of effort and financial pressure to introduce new products in the market place that we seek as consumers. Most companies fight and make a  huge effort to obtain the best quality at a good price in order we can enjoy prime raw ingredients from all over the world. However we do not always  end up buying a good quality product. There is product adulteration and fakes that can sometimes be extremely  difficult to detect if one doesn't know how to identify or demand tests and specific certification that warrants the product one buys.

The essential oil world is specialized and requires knowledge and experience: some firms do not have this expertise to back up and support new  products in the market place.

The objective of this course is to provide more insight and map out steps and the knowledge required prior to buying essential oils as well as presenting a real scenario that illustrates the current market situation concerning essential oils.

We would like this course to help anyone interested in essential oils and products that use them and we would like to emphasise that we stand by the cosmetic firms who do the best they can but are targeted by suppliers with no conscience who alter (adulterate)  pure natural ingredients to reduce their costs often at the expense of public health.

We are aware that ANY FIRM, big or small, with a good reputation or a poor one, can easily become unwritting victims of fraudulent supplier, because we place our trust in them and their good will and assume they only offer the best possible quality at a fair price. This is sometimes not the way the market works.

WHY DID WE CHOOSE TEA TREE OIL TO REPRESENT A REAL SCENE IN THE MARKET PLACE?

Tea tree oil is obtained through destilation of the leaves and terminal branchlets of the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia. Plantation production of the tea tree represents one of the largest and most intensive systems of all essential oils as it is one of the mos commonly used essential oil either in 100% pure form or included in cosmetic and therapeutic formulations. It is valued for its wide range of biological activities and the significant number of studies that support these claims: antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial (Dryden et al., 2004; Garozzo et al., 2009; Groppo et al., 2002; Hammer et al., 2003; Hart et al., 2000 ).

In the past decade evidence has emerged that adulteration of essential oils has increased dramatically and concern for the ongoing viability of the market for this essential oil has prompted a backlash by bona fide producers with support from ethical producers and consumers. The adulteration methods used are highly sophisticated and require advanced knowledge of the Standards used for quality control, an expert understanding of biochemistry and advanced laboratory expertise. This course is designed to provide the basic knowledge required to allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the process of production and adulteration which will in turn allow you to better protect yourself as a farmer, a producer or an end user from the potential harm of adulteration. 

The Tea Tree Oil Industry in Australia (ATTIA) has one of the most active associations in the world: they are actively defending their product- 100% pure Australian tea tree oil. ATTIA's objective is to preserve and enhance the good agricultural practice of local farmers while also ensuring wherever possible that only 100% pure TTO is offered for sale globally by maintaining international and local quality standards throughout the production and supply chain.

This is why tea tree oil has been chosen to demonstrate the market place currently functions, essential oil production is similar regardless of the product being offered so the lessons learnt here can be tranferred to many other essential oils.

WHAT DOES ATTIA DO REALLY?

"A major part of ATTIA's mission is implementing national standards and a Code of Practice (COP). Designed primarily for grower/producers, the COP is a Quality Assurance system to control and record all facets of the production of pure Australian Tea Tree oil that its members must adhere to. This ensures that the Australian tea tree industry maintains consistently high quality in its processes. All Tea Tree Oil manufactured and supplied by ATTIA members is a true market ready product by bringing to the industry a common standard of quality management. Members who are COP accredited are entitled to use the PURE AUSTRALIAN TEA TREE OIL logo on their stationary.

License to use the logo on packaging an promotional material can also be granted to Associate Members both locally and internationally. This is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of ATTIA".

MY COLLABORATION/RELATION WITH ATTIA

It was my personal curiosity regarding  tea tree oil quality that led me to contact the executive representative of this association, Tony Larkman. His support and advice has allowed me to gain expertise and learn about detailed, first hand and authentic data concerning the tea tree oil and the industry as a whole. This encompasses all facets of the industry starting with the information about the plant, its growth, blooming and preferred habitat through distillation procedures, research data, analysis methods, adulteration, etc. In fact everything and anything to do with the fascinating world of essential oils. 

Tony taught me all of the above and thanks to him I discovered how an association should really work. I discovered the enormous compromise it entails and the tremendous effort needed to defend and protect a key product in today´s highly competitive market.

His professional skill and his willingness to share the knowledge he has gained has allowed me to provide this course and so ensure the world can also have the knowledge they need to benefit from an authentic and 100% pure tea tree oil with all of its impressive qualities.

During this personal relationship we joined forces and an idea emerged to collaborate in a journey to safe-guard and protect not only the interests of the tea tree oil industry but also manufacturers and entrepreneurs as well as the consumer who, as a team, can ensure they demand and receive, as is their right, ethical behavior throughout the supply chain for tea tree oil from the leaf to the bottle. (Please go here and here).

This is far more than a joint overview regarding quality in a market place ( in this case Spain) of tea tree oil which is also known as Melaleuca alternifolia (terpinen-4-oil type). Here we provide a level of information and insight that is almost impossible to find anywhere else about tea tree oil and its place in the market. Ee also teach how to avoid fake (adulterated) products that are sold as containing pure tea tree oil. 

Study each lesson in sequence in order to gain a complete understanding. The outcome will give you confidence and ensure that you have the tools you need to ensure that you have only the best possible quality essential oils for your business or personal use. This will allow you become an "emerging expert" in the subject and it will stand you in good stead in your professional and private endeavors.

For English questions, please e-mail tlarkman@attia.org.au

For Spanish questions, please e-mail escuelaesenco@gmail.com

Please, don´t continue if you don´t understand something, it is important to grasp what is being taught in each lesson before going on to the next. This is a complex subject that will take time and effort on your behalf but if you persevere you will be able to progress easily. 

This information is very valuable and you wouldn't be able to find it easily anywhere else: ENJOY!