Ahhh‚ the distinctive smell of eucalyptus. Is there anything more Australian?
One of the most popular essential oils available in Australia is eucalyptus. People love the crisp, fresh scent, and trust its healthiness.
The eucalyptus we use in SimplyClean comes from Australia’s oldest commercial eucalyptus plantation, established in 1949 and still family owned. Leaf from the blue mallee they grow is double-distilled, producing the pure eucalyptus polybractea essential oil that features in SimplyClean.
What may surprise you is just 10% of eucalyptus essential oil comes from Australia, with most coming from China, South Africa, USA and India...But we feel it's time to reclaim eucalyptus oil as the great Aussie all-rounder!
Eucalyptus oil can be used to alleviate the symptoms of coughs and colds just as efficiently as it can treat wounds and ease muscular aches and pains. Add to that the gorgeous clean fragrance that's the familiar scent of the bush, and it's a must-have in any Australian household.
Benefits of eucalyptus oil
A cleaning all-rounder used for:
Disinfection around the home
Eucalyptus has well researched antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties, so it’s perfect for household cleaning of surfaces, including floors, which is why it features in our Eucalyptus Disinfectant Cleaner.
In your laundry
Eucalyptus oil dissolves greasy and sticky substances on fabrics and is a deodoriser too. Look to our Eucalyptus Laundry Powder for really freshening up your wash.
Eucalyptus has health benefits too
- Respiratory ailments such as coughs and colds
- Eucalyptus eases nasal congestion when vaporised in warm water and used as an inhalant. Or simply put a few drops into a diffuser, or oil burner and everything can breathe easy!
- Burns, wounds and ulcers
- It has been used as an antiseptic for centuries
- Muscle aches
- It's commonly used by athletes and physiotherapists, to ease muscular pain.
- Mosquito repellent
- The Centre for Disease Control in USA approved eucalyptus oil as an effective ingredient in mosquito repellent.
- Cold sores
- Research1 shows the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus helps alleviate symptoms of the herpes simplex virus
As a topical treatment
Be sure to dilute it in a cream, lotion or carrier oil such as almond, or jojoba, as pure oil is too strong for skin contact. It's also best to wipe it off before you go outside to prevent a chemical burn in the sun.
Something as quintessentially Australian as eucalyptus oil has quite the history, dating back long before the arrival of the First Fleet.
The (very Australian) history of eucalyptus oil
Many centuries ago, indigenous Australians used eucalyptus leaf to treat a wide variety of ailments.
First Fleet surgeons took note and started to distil the oil from trees growing on the shores of Port Jackson, to treat convicts and sailors. Surgeon-General John even wrote in his diary that the oil seemed to "heal remarkably".
Eucalyptus essential oil became a global hit in the 1870s when German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller heavily promoted the benefits of eucalyptus oil from Tasmanian blue gum. Soon, the world couldn't get enough of Australian eucalyptus essential oil.
In fact, the medical profession took the benefits of eucalyptus oil very seriously - surgeons were even using eucalyptus oil as an antiseptic during surgery in the 1880s. At the end of the 19th century, eucalyptus oil was used in most hospitals in England to clean urinary catheters (modern research is now starting to back this practice up).
Eucalyptus oil was also in huge demand during the global pandemic of 1918-19.
There is good news, though - Australia continues to produce the highest-grade eucalyptus essential oils, from blue mallee, reticulatus and globulus.
SimplyClean Eucalyptus Essential Oil
We always source our essential oils locally, and our Eucalyptus Essential Oil is no exception – it’s the highest quality and 100% Australian.
1 Viruses. 2018 Jul; 10(7): 360. Anti-Infectivity against Herpes Simplex Virus and Selected Microbes and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Compounds Isolated from Eucalyptus globulus Labill.