Manuka oil: a gentler relative of tea tree that has nothing to do with honey

Manuka oil from New Zealand smells woody and gentler than tea tree. How it differs from manuka honey, what triketones mean and how to use it.

In brief: Manuka essential oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the New Zealand shrub Leptospermum scoparium. It has nothing to do with manuka honey. It smells woody, earthy and balsamic, gentler than tea tree. For a diffuser 2–4 drops, on the skin 1–2%; Tisserand & Young list no special restrictions.

Latin name	Leptospermum scoparium (manuka)
Plant part and extraction	leaves and twigs, steam distillation (our oil: East Cape, New Zealand)
Main components	sesquiterpenes (50–70%), triketones: leptospermone, flavesone, isoleptospermone
Scent	woody, earthy, balsamic, slightly sweet
Dilution on the skin	1–2%: 2–4 drops per 10 ml, 6–12 drops per 30 ml
Shelf life	longer than tea tree, roughly 2–3 years after opening

Most people know the word manuka from the expensive New Zealand honey. The essential oil from the same shrub is, however, a completely different product, with a different composition and use. Anyone who buys it believing they will get "honey in drops" will be disappointed. Anyone looking for a gentler relative of tea tree with a more pleasant scent will be satisfied.

In this article we explain the difference between the oil and the honey, what the triketones from East Cape mean, how to dose manuka and what to blend it with.

Manuka oil is not manuka honey

	Manuka essential oil	Manuka honey
Made from	a distillate of the shrub's leaves and twigs	honey that bees make from the nectar of manuka flowers
Typical substances	sesquiterpenes, triketones (leptospermone)	sugars and substances from the nectar; the labelling MGO or UMF
Use	external: diffuser, diluted on the skin	food
Internally	never	yes, as honey

The MGO or UMF numbers from honey labels therefore do not apply to the oil, and the oil must not be eaten or added to tea. Our BIO Manuka oil is a pure essential oil for external use.

What the triketones from East Cape mean

Manuka grows all over New Zealand, but oil from different places differs markedly. A study by the New Zealand institute Crop & Food Research (Douglas et al., 2004) analysed oils from 261 plants from 87 locations and described eleven chemotypes in all. The so-called triketone chemotype with more than 20% triketones occurred only on the East Cape peninsula. Elsewhere, oils rich in α-pinene, linalool or sesquiterpenes predominated.

Triketones (mainly leptospermone) are the substances for which manuka is studied in laboratories for antimicrobial activity. For home aromatherapy, the practical science is more important: oil from East Cape has a typical, full scent, and the origin should be stated on the bottle. According to the product page, our oil is from East Cape.

How manuka smells and how it differs from tea tree

Both manuka and tea tree belong to the myrtle family, but their oils are chemically different. Tea tree is rich in monoterpenes and terpinen-4-ol and smells sharp and "medicinal". Manuka is dominated by sesquiterpenes, smells soft, woody and earthy, and because of this lasts longer in the bottle. Anyone who cannot stand tea tree because of its scent will often accept manuka.

What to blend it with:

lavender – a soft evening blend,
Himalayan cedar – a woody, calm base,
bergamot and lemon – they brighten it for the diffuser,
tea tree – for cleaning sprays, manuka softens its sharpness.

Diffuser, aroma lamp and cleaning

For an ultrasonic diffuser in a small room put 2–4 drops, in a medium one 4–6 drops. For an aroma lamp 2–3 drops. The product page states the scent intensity as "very intense", so start at the lower end. A table by room size is in the article how many drops to put in a diffuser and aroma lamp.

Clean air (diffuser): 2 drops of manuka, 2 drops of lemon, 1 drop of tea tree.
Relax (aroma lamp): 1 drop of manuka, 2 drops of lavender, 1 drop of cedar.
Sweeter wood (diffuser): 2 drops of manuka, 3 drops of bergamot.

Cleaning spray with manuka

Pour 100 ml of vinegar and 150 ml of water into a 250 ml spray bottle.
Add 10 drops of manuka and 10 drops of lemon. The oil does not dissolve in water, so shake before each use.
Spray onto the kitchen worktop or bathroom tiles and wipe with a cloth. Do not use vinegar on marble and natural stone.

More recipes are in the article natural cleaning with essential oils. Bear in mind that the spray mainly smells nice; it is not disinfection.

On the skin: dilution and a simple recipe

Tisserand and Young list no special safety precautions for manuka oil. The basic rule still applies: never undiluted. For the face 1%, for the body 1–2%.

Carrier oil	1%	2%
10 ml	2 drops	4 drops
30 ml	6 drops	12 drops

Foot oil after sport: add 6 drops of manuka and 4 drops of lavender (about 1.7%) to 30 ml of jojoba oil. Massage into the feet and calves after a shower. Do not apply to open grazes or eczema. How to choose a carrier oil is described in the article essential oils for the skin.

For a bath, use 3–4 drops mixed first in a spoonful of carrier oil, never straight into the water.

Traditional use and research

Manuka has a long tradition of folk use in New Zealand, and in aromatherapy it is traditionally classed among the oils for skin care and clean air. Modern research focuses on triketones and their antimicrobial activity in the laboratory. None of this means that the oil cures infections or acne at home. For skin problems, see a doctor or pharmacist.

Safety and storage

Children: treat manuka like tea tree, that is, only from 6 years of age: 1–2 drops in a blend in a diffuser, on the skin up to 1%. More in the article essential oils and children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the specialist literature lists no special restriction, but the product page does not recommend use in pregnancy. In this period therefore only briefly in a diffuser, on the skin after consulting a doctor.
Cats: manuka is related to tea tree, which is risky for cats. Do not diffuse it in a room with a cat and never apply it to an animal. See essential oils and pets.
Storage: in a cool, dark place, well closed. Thanks to the sesquiterpenes it lasts longer than tea tree, but still use it up within 2–3 years of opening.

Frequently asked questions

Is manuka oil the same as manuka honey?

No. The oil is a distillate from leaves and twigs and is used externally only. Honey is made by bees from flower nectar, and the labelling MGO or UMF concerns honey only.

Is manuka better than tea tree?

It is neither better nor worse, it is different. It smells gentler, lasts longer and has a different composition. Tea tree is cheaper and better researched, manuka more pleasant in a diffuser and on the skin.

Can I apply manuka oil directly to a spot?

Not undiluted. If you want it for the skin, add 2 drops to 10 ml of carrier oil (1%). For inflammatory acne consult a dermatologist; an essential oil is not a medicine.

Why does it matter that the manuka is from East Cape?

Manuka forms a number of chemotypes in New Zealand. According to research, only oils from East Cape have a high triketone content (over 20%); elsewhere the oil has a different composition and scent.

Sources

Douglas M. H. et al.: Essential oils from New Zealand manuka: triketone and other chemotypes of Leptospermum scoparium, Phytochemistry 2004 – PubMed
AromaWeb: Manuka Essential Oil, composition and safety according to Tisserand & Young – aromaweb.com
Tisserand R., Young R.: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition, Churchill Livingstone 2014 (Manuka profile, pp. 344–345).

Updated: 27 September 2026

Author: Jana Vránová, the editorial pen name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage information from specialist literature and official sources, which we cite in every article.