Cajeput Essential Oil 10mL
Cajeput comes from Melaleuca cajuputi, a close relative of tea tree and nerolina. Where nerolina is soft and floral, cajeput is cineole-rich and unmistakably medicinal, with a warm, fruity edge underneath. It is the oil people reach for in winter, and the name comes from kayu putih, Malay for white wood.
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Cajeput is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of Melaleuca cajuputi, sometimes listed as Melaleuca leucadendron. It belongs to the same genus as tea tree, nerolina and rosalina, and the same Myrtaceae family as eucalyptus and kunzea. The aroma is medicinal and penetrating with a fresh, fruity lift that separates it from eucalyptus.
From bush to bottle
Melaleuca cajuputi is a paperbark that grows in swampy tropical country, and its pale flaking bark is what gives it the name kayu putih, white wood. Like the other paperbarks it tolerates flooding and fire, and reshoots readily after both.
The harvest takes leaves and the fine twigs with them, which is where the oil sits. Cutting the terminal growth encourages the tree to reshoot, so the same stand keeps producing rather than being cleared.
Steam passes through the leaf material and lifts the volatile oil with it. Nothing is added afterwards. Every batch carries a certificate of analysis covering appearance, colour, odour, specific gravity and refractive index.
Melaleuca is a large genus and the oils it produces have almost nothing in common with each other. Tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, is led by terpinen-4-ol and reads sharply medicinal. Rosalina, Melaleuca ericifolia, is 40 to 43% linalool and reads like soft lavender. Nerolina, Melaleuca quinquenervia CT linalool, is nerolidol-dominant and reads floral.
Cajeput sits at the assertive end alongside tea tree, but with a cineole-led profile rather than a terpinen-4-ol one, which is what gives it the warm, camphoraceous, slightly fruity character instead of tea tree's antiseptic bite. If you want a melaleuca that announces itself, this is it. If you want one that does not, take the rosalina.
Quality and testing
Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis. The figures above are taken from that certificate, which records Madagascar as both the country of origin and the country of extraction. The full constituent breakdown sits on the batch certificate.
Melaleuca cajuputi grows through the wet tropics of South-East Asia and northern Australia, and Zea's is distilled in Madagascar. It is paperbark country: waterlogged ground, seasonal flooding and fire, all of which this genus is built to survive.
The melaleucas compared
| Cajeput | Rosalina | Nerolina | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical | Melaleuca cajuputi | Melaleuca ericifolia | M. quinquenervia CT linalool |
| Lead character | Cineole-rich | Linalool, 40 to 43% | Nerolidol, 48 to 65% |
| Aroma | Medicinal, warm, fruity | Soft lavender over eucalypt | Floral, sweet, earthy |
| Character | Assertive | Gentle | Gentlest |
| Origin | Madagascar | New South Wales | New South Wales |
| Best for | Winter diffusing | Bedrooms and children's spaces | Softening a blend |
A botanical and aroma comparison to help you choose between oils. It is not a claim that one oil performs better than another.
Properties
Traditional and aromatherapy properties associated with this oil. Individual results differ, and this is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.
Ways to use it
3 to 6 drops in a diffuser or oil burner. The simplest way in.
Cajeput blends with Kunzea, Eucalyptus, Fragonia, Cedarwood and Clove Bud.
One or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba. Patch test first.
One drop inhaled from a tissue when you want the aroma on the move.
A few drops in water instead of a synthetic air freshener.
Well dispersed in a carrier or with bath salts, never neat on water.
A few drops in a homemade surface spray as a fresh deodoriser.
2 to 3 drops with other cineole-rich oils such as Eucalyptus or Kunzea.
What customers tell us
★★★★★
“I love this oil... It is great for sore muscles... All the oils I have purchased have been great... keep up the good work Zea Family”
Susan V. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“I love blending with Cajeput to cleanse the air and to help me breathe. It helps me breathe deeply as I have some respiratory problems. Love it.”
Jennifer W. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“This is so easy to use. No mess. It's a great product and I take it in my hand bag every day.”
Denise J. · Verified buyer
Five-star reviews left by verified Judge.me buyers, quoted as written. These are individual customer experiences and results differ from person to person.
Complete your blending kit
Cajeput is an assertive top note. These are the oils that balance it.
Foresty depth under the medicinal top.
$24.95
The other cineole-rich oil. A natural partner.
$14.95
Woody warmth to soften the edge.
$19.95
Warm spice alongside it.
$19.95
Balanced and calm. Rounds the sharpness off.
$34.95
Unscented base for diluting before any skin use.
$17.95
Single origin Australian essential oils since 2016
Questions, answered
A 100% pure essential oil, steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of Melaleuca cajuputi, distilled in Madagascar. It is GC/MS tested and each batch carries a certificate of analysis.
Medicinal and penetrating with a warm, fresh, slightly fruity edge. Sharper than eucalyptus and quite different from the softer melaleucas.
Start with 3 to 6 drops in a diffuser. For skin, dilute one or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and patch test first.
Same genus, different species and a different lead constituent. Tea tree is led by terpinen-4-ol; cajeput is cineole-rich, which is why it reads warm and camphoraceous rather than antiseptic.
Kayu putih, Malay for white wood, after the pale flaking paperbark of the tree.
No. Never apply an undiluted essential oil and never take one internally. Dilute in a carrier oil first, and patch test.
Yes. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis, which is how the specifications on this page are established.
Keep it out of reach of children and never apply it undiluted. Diffuse in a ventilated room rather than a closed space. Check with your vet before diffusing around pets.
Below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap on firmly. The lighter constituents are always the first to escape.
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Free shipping on Australian orders over $75 · 100% pure · GC/MS tested · distilled in Madagascar. Choose your pack and we will get it on its way.
Choose your packCajeput Essential Oil is an aromatherapy product for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always dilute before use and follow the label directions. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents, not to an outcome from using this product. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
Cajeput Oil 10mL
