What is manuka essential oil and what is it made from?

It is the essential oil of Leptospermum scoparium, a shrub in the Myrtaceae family that a 2020 review places throughout New Zealand and Australia (Mathew et al., Pharmaceuticals, 2020). That review describes production by steam distillation of the foliage, with a yield of 0.2 to 1%, depending on season and geography. Our shop sells one steam-distilled manuka oil from leafy branches, sold neat, with no additives. Our certificate for one batch lists the plant part as leaf, so the parts used differ between our own pages. The full process is in the article on how manuka oil is made.

Is manuka oil the same as manuka honey?

No. The honey is a food product and the oil is distilled from leaf and branch, so they share a plant name and little else. The best-documented antibacterial compound in New Zealand manuka honey is methylglyoxal: one study of six honeys found 38 to 761 mg/kg, up to about 100 times the level in conventional honeys (Mavric et al., Mol Nutr Food Res, 2008). That figure describes honey and says nothing about the oil. Findings about one product cannot be carried over to the other; our comparison explains the difference at length.

Is manuka oil the same as tea tree oil?

No, they come from different plants, and the chemistry differs. The Mathew review reports terpinen-4-ol, the main marker of tea tree oil, at 0.8 to 1.4% in manuka oil. A survey of 16 commercial manuka oils found sesquiterpene hydrocarbons at 60 to 70% of the oil and triketones averaging 22.1% (Christoph et al., J Essent Oil Res, 1999). Reasoning from those numbers, a recipe or dilution plan written for one oil cannot simply be reused for the other: the dominant compounds differ, and so do their published safety data. Do not swap them.

Does the region where manuka grows change the oil?

The plant does vary by site. A survey of 261 plants from 87 New Zealand sites found that all 36 East Cape plants had triketones above 20% of the oil, while Marlborough Sounds oils reached up to 20% and ten further chemotypes appeared elsewhere (Douglas et al., Phytochemistry, 2004). That is a literature result about plants. Our published certificate names no origin, so we make no regional claim for our oil. For the buyer's side of this question, read the origin article.

How do I dilute manuka oil for skin?

Our shop's guidance is 0.5% to 2% in a carrier oil with a patch test first, roughly 3 to 12 drops per ounce of carrier, starting at the low end for facial blends. It is not a safety certificate: we publish no IFRA statement for the oil. The Tisserand Institute says plainly not to apply undiluted essential oils to the skin (Tisserand Institute, Safety Guidelines), and DermNet NZ says reactions to essential oils generally appear 24 to 72 hours after exposure (DermNet NZ). Wait three days after a test dab before using a larger area, and stop at the first itching, redness or swelling. For a 30 ml (1 oz) batch at the shop's range, 3 drops is 0.5% and 12 drops is 2%, counting 20 drops to the millilitre.

Can manuka oil be swallowed?

No. Our shop says it is not for internal use, and we do not recommend swallowing it in any amount or form. If a person or a pet has swallowed oil, call poison control or a doctor or veterinarian right away rather than searching for a home remedy. The ingestion article covers the steps in more detail.

Is manuka oil safe in pregnancy, around children or around pets?

We cannot call it safe for any of these. Our shop says to keep the oil away from children and pets. The Mathew review advises against using the oil as a relaxant during childbirth, and the rest of its safety data is limited by the lack of clinical trials. Questions about pregnancy belong with an obstetrician or midwife, children with a pediatrician and pets with a veterinarian. Our pregnancy article sets out what authorities do and do not say.

Is there proof that manuka oil works for skin, nail or scalp problems?

Not in the form of clinical trials. The Mathew review concludes that there is "limited evidence on the efficacy and safety" of manuka oil and that the extensive in vitro data warrant clinical studies. Most of what exists is laboratory work on bacteria and cells. FDA says an aromatherapy product's regulatory status depends mainly on how it is intended to be used, judged from its claims (FDA, Aromatherapy), and our pages make no health claim. For a skin, nail or scalp problem, see a dermatologist or physician. What the studies tested lists the specific papers.

How long does a bottle of manuka oil last?

Our shop says "typically 2 to 3 years" when tightly capped, cool and dark. That is the shop's estimate and not a measured shelf life. The only ageing data we found are for tea tree oil, where peroxide levels rose sharply within four days under test conditions and oxidised oil was about three times as strong a sensitiser as fresh oil (Hausen et al., Am J Contact Dermat, 1999). Nobody has shown the same for manuka oil, so treat a bottle that smells different as spent. The storage article has the habits.

What does the published certificate of analysis show?

It covers one batch. It records the botanical name, the part used as leaf, a best-by date of 11/30/2027, a clear liquid, a smell of "Sweet, Honey, Herbal," a relative density of 0.896, a refractive index of 1.489 and an optical rotation of -3.84 degrees at 20 C. It does not show GC-MS data, a triketone figure, an origin, a laboratory name or any dates beyond the best-by date. Anyone who needs those figures should ask in writing through our contact page before ordering and keep the answer. Our line-by-line reading goes further.

Manuka Oil FAQ: Answers to the Questions We Expect

Say "manuka" to ten people and you get ten different pictures: honey in a jar, a tea tree cousin, a hillside shrub in New Zealand. The oil we sell is its own thing, and most of the questions we expect about it come down to a handful of ideas. Here they are, one at a time.

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What exactly is manuka oil?

It is the essential oil of Leptospermum scoparium, a shrub of the myrtle family that grows in New Zealand and Australia. Our oil is steam-distilled from leafy branches, sold neat with no additives or fillers. A 2020 review puts typical yields at 0.2 to 1% of the plant material, which is a lot of branch for a small bottle (Mathew et al.). The full story of how it is made is in our distillation article.

What does it smell like?

Open the bottle and take a short sniff from a little distance. We describe the aroma as earthy, honeyed and warm, with a slightly spicy edge, deeper and sweeter than tea tree. It is a low, settled scent rather than a bright one, and a drop or two goes a long way, so there is no need to go hunting for more. Our scent article takes it slowly.

Is it the same as manuka honey?

No. They share a plant and a name, and that is about it. The honey is a food whose best-known marker is methylglyoxal, found at 38 to 761 mg/kg in six New Zealand honeys in one study (Mavric et al.). That number belongs to honey, and nothing about it carries over to the oil. Our honey versus oil comparison goes deeper.

Dilution makings on a pale table: a small glass dish of golden carrier oil, a plain steel teaspoon

Is it the same as tea tree oil?

It is a different plant with different chemistry. The Mathew review reports terpinen-4-ol, tea tree's signature compound, at only 0.8 to 1.4% in manuka oil, while a survey of 16 commercial manuka oils found sesquiterpene hydrocarbons making up 60 to 70% of the oil (Christoph et al.). In practice that means a recipe written for one oil should not simply be swapped to the other.

Does where it grows matter?

For the plant, yes. A survey of 261 plants across 87 New Zealand sites found that every East Cape plant sampled was rich in triketones, while other regions showed ten further chemical types (Douglas et al.). That is a finding about plants in the wild. If region matters for your project, ask us in writing through our contact page before you order.

How do I dilute it for skin?

Our guidance is 0.5% to 2% in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, with a patch test first. We suggest starting at 0.5% and going up only if your skin is happy, especially on the face. In a 1 oz (30 ml) bottle of carrier that works out to about 3 drops at 0.5% and about 12 at 2%, counting 20 drops to the millilitre. The Tisserand Institute is clear that undiluted essential oils do not belong on the skin, and DermNet NZ notes that reactions to essential oils are delayed, so wait a few days after a test spot before widening use. We cover this properly in our piece on using the oil undiluted.

What can I do with it?

The uses we have in mind are simple ones: an earthy diffuser blend, a diluted skincare oil, a scalp or beard blend, soap and candle making, or a linen spray. Because our oil is sold neat, whatever you make starts with a little arithmetic, and a small test batch is a kind way to find out whether you like the result before you commit to a big one.

A small white ultrasonic diffuser misting softly on a wooden side table beside a sprig of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium)

Can it be swallowed?

No. It is an external oil, and we do not recommend swallowing any amount. If someone has swallowed it, call poison control or a doctor right away. The swallowing article has the steps.

What about pregnancy, children and pets?

Keep the bottle away from children and pets, and check with your midwife or obstetrician about pregnancy. We sell a cosmetic oil and do not make health claims, so those conversations belong with the professionals. Our pregnancy article sets out what the authorities say.

Where should I keep it?

Somewhere you will not trip over it: a cupboard or drawer away from the radiator and the sunny windowsill, with the cap pushed on firmly after every use. Up high is better still, out of reach of children and pets. If you like to label things, a small sticker with the date you opened the bottle takes five seconds and saves you guessing later.

How long does a bottle last?

Our guidance is typically 2 to 3 years when it is tightly capped and kept cool and dark. Air, heat and light are what age an oil, and the NCCIH notes that tea tree products that are old or exposed to heat, light or air are more likely to irritate (NCCIH). Our storage guide has the habits that matter.

A Korean woman in her thirties in a long-sleeved knit top, seen from the side at a table by a window

What does the Certificate of Analysis tell me?

The certificate for one batch lists the botanical name, a best-by date of 11/30/2027, a clear liquid with a "Sweet, Honey, Herbal" smell, a relative density of 0.896, a refractive index of 1.489 and an optical rotation of -3.84 degrees at 20 C. If you need GC-MS or other figures for your own work, ask us in writing through the contact page before ordering. Our line-by-line walkthrough explains each entry.

Small habits that help

Wipe the neck of the bottle after pouring, recap it straight away, and use a clean dropper or a small glass dish when you measure. None of it is fussy, and all of it keeps the oil pleasant to use for as long as you have it.

Not on the list? Send us the question; we would rather answer it than guess.