Eucalyptus essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, a tall evergreen tree native to Australia. The oil is thin and clear with a fresh, camphorous, slightly woody aroma.
Plant details
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), often called blue gum or southern blue gum, is a tall evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family. It is native to Australia and grows across areas of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. The trees typically grow to around 150 feet and can reach 300 feet in ideal conditions. The plant may also grow as a shorter, stunted shrub.
The bark is smooth and white to light brown. The leaves are oblong and lance-shaped with a smooth, glossy surface. They are lighter on the underside when the tree is young and darken as it matures. The flowers vary from white to a dull grayish-green. The buds are coarsely ribbed and closed by a cap that falls off at flowering, revealing many white stamens around a nectar-secreting disk. The fruit is small, woody and conical.
History
The species name comes from the Latin word "globulus," meaning small ball or sphere, and refers to the round shape of the tree's fruit. Eucalyptus was first used by the native Aboriginal people of Australia, who referred to it as "kino."
Eucalyptus globulus was first formally described by the French botanist Jacques Labillardière in his book Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Pérouse in 1800. He collected specimens of the tree at Recherche Bay during the d'Entrecasteaux expedition in 1792. The timber was also used to improve the expedition's boats. Later, as word of the tree spread across Australia, pharmacists began to cultivate and distill eucalyptus commercially.
Extraction and aroma
Eucalyptus grown for essential oil is harvested when the leaves begin to feel firm and leathery. The leaves are often still harvested by hand to avoid damage to the tree and to keep as much essential oil as possible. The cut material is loaded directly for transport to the distillery.
The oil is extracted by steam distillation of fresh or partially dried leaves. Fresh leaves give a higher yield, so the time between harvest and distillation is kept as short as possible. Oil yield is typically around 1 to 3 percent of the weight of fresh plant material. The resulting oil is thin and clear with a fresh, camphorous and slightly woody aroma.
How makers use eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a common addition to home cleaning products, where it cuts through dirt and grime and leaves a fresh, clean scent. It is also used in fabric sprays, diffuser blends and hair care. In the recipes below it is blended with bergamot and frankincense, with lemon and tea tree, and with rosemary and chamomile.
Recipes
Eucalyptus, Bergamot and Frankincense Diffuser Blend
Ingredients
- 4 parts Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 3 parts Bergamot Essential Oil
- 2 parts Frankincense Essential Oil
Instructions
Add water to your diffuser up to the fill line, then add the blend. The recipe was written for a 200 mL ultrasonic diffuser, using about 0.45 mL of oil in total. Adjust the amount to the size and directions of your diffuser.
Eucalyptus and Lemon Fabric Spray
Ingredients
- 4 oz Amber Glass Bottle with spray top
- 2 oz High Percentage Alcohol
- 2 oz Witch Hazel Extract
- 1.25 mL Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 0.75 mL Lemon Essential Oil
- 0.5 mL Tea Tree Essential Oil
Instructions
Add 2 oz of high percentage alcohol to the bottle. Add the essential oils and fill the remainder of the bottle with witch hazel, leaving a little space at the top. Shake well before each use. Spray on linens, upholstery and drapes to freshen them.
Moisturizing Scalp Oil
Ingredients
- 2 ounce Amber Bottle with Dropper
- 1 ounce Sweet Almond Oil
- 1 ounce Jojoba Oil
- 0.5 mL Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 0.5 mL Rosemary Essential Oil
- 0.25 mL Chamomile Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to the bottle and give it a good shake to combine. Massage a small amount into the scalp to moisturize.
Find the oil used in these recipes here: Eucalyptus essential oil, also available as Certified Organic Eucalyptus.
