Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil

Eucalyptus Australiana Essential Oil - sourced from Essentially Australia

INCI name: Eucalyptus radiata leaf oil

County of Origin: Australia

Production method: Steam distilled from the leaves of the tree.

Use: A strong, powerful, clearing oil that is useful for clearing lungs and respiratory system. It's also very anti-microbial so a useful oil to use in a sick room in a burner or diffuser.

Scent: Uplifting, fruity, earthy fresh scent.

Chemistry: Main constituent, contains up to 75% cineole, also limonene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol.

Cautions: External use only, dilute in carrier oil before use on skin.

Other Common Names: Narrow Leaf Peppermint, Australian Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus radiata Sieber ex DC.

Natural Occurrence in Australia

Eucalyptus Australiana trees naturally occur in the Eucalyptus forests of south eastern New South Wales and north east Victoria, including the Snowy mountains. The tree is relatively common in these areas. In grows in altitudes from around 250 metres to 1200 metres.

Eucalyptus radiata grows in an especially large area around the Tumut and Batlow region, an area on the very footsteps of the Australian Alps. Frosts are common and snow can also occur in this variety of Eucalyptus.

Extraction and Farming Method:

Eucalyptus’ Australiana’ essential oil is sourced from plantations and wild harvesting in southern New South Wales. The essential oil of Eucalyptus Australiana is extracted via steam distillation of the leaves and green branchlets. The tree leaves are hand harvested and steam distilled immediately. The tree responds well to pruning and harvesting.

History – Eucalyptus Australiana

Traditional Usage: Indigenous Australians used to place leaves in small pools of water, which were heated by placing heated rocks into the water, this produced steam, the leaves oils vapours would be breathed in for various colds, coughs and flu.

Early European Usage: The first Eucalyptus oil was distilled around 1788, however the first commercial Eucalyptus oil production began at Dandenong creek, it was established by Joesph Bosisto in 1852, upon the insistence of one of Australia’s greatest botanists, Ferdinand von Mueller. That first commercial species was in fact Eucalyptus radiata, thankfully, Australia is still a major source of this wonderful, fresh, Eucalyptus oil. Australia is the sole source country for Essentially Australia essential oil.

Present Day Usage: This oil seems to have not been as well popularised or marketed as other types of Eucalyptus oils, yet it may well be the best Eucalyptus, owing to its fresh, fruity aroma, yet still qualifying as an effective, legitimate Eucalyptus oil.

There are a couple of chemical varieties of Eucalyptus radiata, one of which is fresh, rich in cineole and of fine medicinal quality, this variety is called Eucalyptus Australiana and the one Essentially Australia uses entirely. Another variety of Eucalyptus radiata known as var. ‘B’, known as E phellandra produces a less aromatic oil, we do not market this oil variety.