Ecodrop Wild Manuka Essential Oil 5ml, New Zealand Leptospermum scoparium, amber glass bottle

Wild Manuka Essential Oil 5ml bottle with its Ecodrop gift box

Manuka essential oil massage blend, diluted in a carrier oil for tired shoulders and back

Manuka essential oil benefits card: fresh herbaceous aroma, diffuser blends, skincare and body care

Manuka essential oil with an aroma diffuser and flowering manuka sprigs

White manuka flowers, Leptospermum scoparium, in a sunlit landscape

Wild Manuka Essential Oil

£13.99

100% pure, GC/MS tested manuka essential oil from New Zealand
Steam distilled from Leptospermum scoparium leaves and twigs
Tea tree's softer, honey-green cousin for skin and diffuser blends
Safety data sheet, specification, IFRA and allergen documents on this page

Size: 5ml

5ml£13.99

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Description

Tea tree's softer, honey-green cousin, from New Zealand.

Ecodrop's wild manuka essential oil is steam distilled in New Zealand from the leaves and small branches of Leptospermum scoparium, the shrub behind manuka honey, and bottled in the UK. It does the jobs people give tea tree, in skin blends, spot dabs, shampoo and the diffuser, with a gentler green, woody and faintly honeyed scent.

New Zealand manuka: not the Australian oil sold under the same name, which has different chemistry. The FAQs explain the difference, including East Cape manuka.
100% pure: single-botanical Leptospermum scoparium, nothing added, nothing diluted, GC/MS tested.
Not manuka honey: no MGO or UMF, which are honey grades. This is the oil of the leaf.
Gentle on the nose: green and herbal where tea tree is sharp and medicinal.
Four documents on the page: safety data sheet, specification sheet, IFRA certificate (51st Amendment) and EU 2023 allergen declaration.
Vegan & cruelty-free: confirmed by our supplier.
5ml bottle, bulk on request: for larger sizes or wholesale manuka oil for soap makers and formulators, email support@ecodrop.co.uk.

Lovely with lavender, lemon, tea tree and rose geranium. Always dilute before skin use. Not for lip products or oral care, per the IFRA certificate.

Benefits

Manuka is the oil people reach for when they like what tea tree does but not how it smells. It comes from the same New Zealand shrub as manuka honey, and it brings a soft, green, faintly honeyed note to the jobs tea tree usually does.

Skin and face blends: a drop or two, well diluted, in facial oils, serums and blends for blemish-prone skin. Its IFRA certificate is not limited for face creams and beard care.
Spot dabs: one drop in a teaspoon of carrier oil, dabbed on with a cotton bud. The DIY classic, with a kinder scent.
Beard oils and after-shave: clean and woody, and a nice change from the usual cedarwood.
Scalp and hair: 1 to 2 drops in a dose of shampoo, or in a scalp oil.
Feet and nails: the classic tea tree job, done with a better smell.
Clean diffusing: green and herbal rather than clinical, lovely with lemon or lavender.
Natural soap, balms and formulating: not limited in bar soap or body products. Larger sizes and bulk manuka oil for soap makers, formulators and skincare brands are available on request: email support@ecodrop.co.uk for wholesale manuka essential oil in the UK.

How to use & dilute

Everyday uses

Spot dab: 1 drop of manuka in a teaspoon of jojoba, dabbed on with a cotton bud.
Face oil: 2 to 3 drops in 30ml of jojoba or rosehip, about 0.5 to 1%.
Body and massage: 6 to 12 drops in 30ml of carrier oil, 1 to 2%.
Beard oil: 3 drops of manuka and 2 of cedarwood in 30ml of jojoba.
Shampoo: 1 to 2 drops into a single dose in your palm, not the whole bottle.
Foot soak: 4 drops mixed into a spoonful of carrier oil or salt, then into a bowl of warm water.
In a diffuser: 3 to 4 drops. Manuka is softer than tea tree, so it works in living rooms as well as bathrooms.

How to dilute

Face: 0.5 to 1%, two to three drops per 30ml.
Body: 1 to 2%, six to twelve drops per 30ml.
Never apply neat and patch test on the inner forearm for 24 hours first.
Not for lip products or oral care: the IFRA certificate marks manuka Not approved in category 1 (lip products) and category 6 (toothpaste and mouthwash).

Specification

Technical information

Product: Manuka essential oil, New Zealand
INCI: Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Botanical name: Leptospermum scoparium (also called New Zealand tea tree)
CAS: 223749-44-8
Plant part: Leaves and small branches
Extraction: Steam distillation
Country of origin: New Zealand
Declared allergens: beta-caryophyllene 4%, pinene 3%, limonene 0.5%, linalool 0.5%, everything else 0.1% or less, per the allergen declaration on this page
Specific gravity at 20°C: 0.920 to 0.984
Refractive index at 20°C: 1.490 to 1.512
Optical rotation: -45.0° to -10.0°
IFRA: conforms to the 51st Amendment. Not limited in most categories, including body oils (5A), face creams (5B), bar soap (9), household products (10) and candles (12). Deodorants 62%, baby products 70%. Not approved for lip products (1) or oral care (6)
Hazard classification: Acute Tox. 4 (oral) H302, Skin Irrit. 2 H315, Eye Irrit. 2 H319, signal word Warning, per the safety data sheet. Not classified as a skin sensitiser or aspiration hazard
Flash point: 98°C. Not classified as dangerous for transport
Appearance: Liquid, yellow to brownish yellow
Aroma: Green, herbal and softly woody with a honeyed warmth
Note: Middle
Consistency: Thin, slightly heavier than tea tree
Shelf life: 36 months from supply, per our supplier's specification. Best used within 12 months of opening
Storage: Cool, dry and dark, away from heat and sunlight, cap tightly closed
Vegan and cruelty-free: confirmed by our supplier

Bottled in the UK

Safety Precautions

The points below come from the safety data sheet in the Documents tab, published in full. Classification: harmful if swallowed (H302), causes skin irritation (H315) and causes serious eye irritation (H319), signal word Warning. In plain terms: never swallow it, always dilute it, and keep it out of your eyes.

External and aromatic use only: harmful if swallowed. If swallowed, rinse the mouth and call a doctor or poison centre if you feel unwell.
Always dilute: undiluted manuka is classified as a skin irritant. Use 1 to 2% for the body, 0.5 to 1% for the face, and patch test on the inner forearm for 24 hours first. If irritation occurs, wash with soap and water.
Eyes: causes serious eye irritation. If it gets in, rinse with water for several minutes and remove contact lenses if easy to do. Wash hands after handling.
Not for lips or mouth: the IFRA certificate marks manuka Not approved for lip products and oral care. Do not add it to lip balm, toothpaste or mouthwash.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: check with a qualified healthcare professional before use.
Children and pets: store out of reach. Never apply to animals, and diffuse only in a ventilated room that a pet can leave. Cats are especially sensitive to essential oils.
Heat: flash point 98°C. Store cool, dark and tightly closed, away from heat and flame. Not classified as dangerous for transport.

We do not make health claims for manuka oil. It is sold as an aromatherapy and cosmetic ingredient, and nothing on this page is medical advice.

Documents

The full paperwork for our New Zealand manuka essential oil, from our supplier. The safety data sheet, IFRA certificate and allergen declaration were all issued on the same date, 27 April 2025, and agree with each other.

Safety data sheet (PDF). Version 1, April 2025, to REACH Regulation EC 1907/2006. Classified harmful if swallowed, skin irritant and eye irritant. Flash point 98°C. Not dangerous for transport.
Specification sheet (PDF). Version 2.0, April 2024. INCI Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, steam distilled, 36-month shelf life, with the specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation ranges you can check a bottle against.
IFRA certificate (PDF). Conformity to the 51st Amendment. Not limited in most categories, including body oils, face creams, soap, household products and candles. Not approved for lip products or oral care. Includes IFRA's own table of what each category covers.
Allergen declaration (PDF). To the EU 2023/1545 fragrance allergen rules. Main entries: beta-caryophyllene 4%, pinene 3%, limonene 0.5% and linalool 0.5%.

What we do not yet publish. We do not currently hold a batch GC report for manuka, so we make no claim about its triketone content. It will be posted here when we have it. We also hold a full product statements document (vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, palm-free, no residual solvents and more), which we can send on request.

Need anything else? Email support@ecodrop.co.uk and we will send exactly what we hold.

Wild Manuka Essential Oil

£13.99

Aromatherapy, considered

Why you'll love it

From New Zealand

The shrub behind the honey

Manuka is a tough, white-flowered shrub that grows wild across New Zealand, from coastal scrub to hillsides cleared by fire. Bees make manuka honey from its flowers. The essential oil comes from somewhere else entirely: the small leaves and twigs.

Those are steam distilled, and the yield is tiny, typically 3 to 5 litres of oil from a whole tonne of foliage. That is why manuka costs several times more than tea tree.

Where it grows matters. New Zealand manuka varies from region to region, and Australian manuka is chemically different again. Ours is New Zealand manuka, bottled in the UK.

Tea tree's softer cousin

For the jobs you gave tea tree

Most people come to manuka through tea tree. They like the clean, purifying feel of it, and want something that does not smell like a first-aid kit.

Manuka is green, herbal and gently honeyed. Two drops in a face oil, one in a dose of shampoo, or a few in the diffuser with lemon, and the room smells fresh rather than clinical.

Dilute it to 1 to 2% for the body and half that for the face, and patch test first. Keep it out of lip balms: its IFRA certificate does not allow lip or oral-care use.

GET CREATIVE

Essential Oil Uses

Wild Manuka Essential Oil

Your questions, answered

Is this manuka oil pure, and where is it from?

Yes. It is 100% pure manuka essential oil, Leptospermum scoparium, with nothing added, nothing diluted, and GC/MS tested. It is steam distilled in New Zealand from the leaves and small branches of the manuka shrub, then bottled here in the UK.

The origin matters more for manuka than for most oils. The same species grows in Australia, and a good deal of the "manuka oil" sold in the UK is Australian. It is a legitimate oil, but its chemistry is different, as the FAQ on New Zealand and Australian manuka explains. Ours is New Zealand manuka, and the supplier's paperwork states both source and manufacturing origin as New Zealand.

Distillation takes a lot of leaf: a commonly quoted yield is only 3 to 5 litres of oil per tonne of foliage, which is why manuka costs more than tea tree.

Is manuka oil the same as manuka honey?

No. They come from the same plant, but they are entirely different products. Manuka honey is made by bees from the nectar of the manuka flower. Manuka essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs. No bees, no nectar, no sugar.

MGO and UMF are honey grades, not oil grades. Methylglyoxal (MGO) forms in manuka honey from a compound in the nectar, and UMF ratings measure it. Manuka oil contains no MGO, and an oil sold with an MGO or UMF number is mixing up the two. Even some supplier paperwork gets this wrong.

What the oil does have is its own chemistry: sesquiterpenes, and in some New Zealand regions compounds called triketones. If you are looking for manuka honey, this is not it. If you want the scent of the manuka bush itself, it is.

How do I use manuka oil on my skin and face?

Always diluted. Manuka's IFRA certificate is not limited for face creams, beard care or body oils, but undiluted it is classified as a skin and eye irritant on its safety data sheet, so it should never go on skin neat.

Face oil or serum: 2 to 3 drops in 30ml of jojoba or rosehip, about 0.5 to 1%.
Spot dab: 1 drop in a teaspoon of carrier oil, applied with a cotton bud.
Body oil: 1 to 2%, six to twelve drops per 30ml.
Beard oil: 3 drops in 30ml of jojoba with 2 drops of cedarwood.
Not for lips: the IFRA certificate marks manuka Not approved for lip products, so leave it out of lip balm.

Patch test on the inner forearm for 24 hours before using it on your face. We do not make claims about what manuka does to skin. It is a pleasant-smelling ingredient for your own blends, used well diluted.

Can I use manuka in a homemade insect repellent or room spray?

You can use it in both, within the limits on its IFRA certificate. We are quoting the paperwork here, not making a claim about what it repels.

Skin-applied repellent: IFRA category 5A, which covers "insect repellent (intended to be applied to the skin)", is Not limited for manuka. Keep to 1 to 2% in a carrier oil, as with any body oil.
Room and pillow sprays: categories 10B and 11B. Air freshener sprays are not limited, pillow sprays up to 70%. 6 to 8 drops in 100ml of water with a little alcohol or solubiliser, shaken before use.
Candles and diffusers: category 12, not limited.

Manuka has a long history of household use in New Zealand. Keep sprays away from pets and out of children's reach, and never spray on animals.

What does manuka oil smell like?

Green, herbal and softly woody, with a warm honeyed edge underneath. It is recognisably in the tea tree family but without the hospital sharpness, and most people find it much easier to live with.

It sits in the middle of a blend, so it works as a bridge between bright citrus top notes and woods like cedarwood or sandalwood. On a scent strip the green note fades first and leaves a soft, slightly spicy warmth, which is the beta-caryophyllene.

If you are hoping it smells like manuka honey, it does not. The honey note in the oil is a hint, not the main event.

What does manuka blend well with?

The partners that work best: lavender, tea tree, lemon, rose geranium, eucalyptus, peppermint, frankincense, cedarwood, sandalwood and bergamot.

Five manuka blends

Gentle face oil, 30ml jojoba: 2 manuka, 1 lavender.
Clean green diffuser: 2 manuka, 2 lemon, 1 eucalyptus.
Beard oil, 30ml jojoba: 3 manuka, 2 cedarwood, 1 bergamot.
Fresh feet: 2 manuka, 2 tea tree, 1 peppermint in a foot soak.
Calm evening: 2 manuka, 2 frankincense, 1 rose geranium.

Manuka softens tea tree beautifully. If you find tea tree too harsh, try half and half.

Manuka or tea tree: what is the difference?

They are cousins, not twins. Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is often called New Zealand tea tree, but Australian tea tree oil comes from a different plant, Melaleuca alternifolia. Both belong to the myrtle family.

Scent: tea tree is sharp, medicinal and camphor-like. Manuka is softer, greener and faintly honeyed.
Chemistry: tea tree is dominated by terpinen-4-ol. Manuka is rich in sesquiterpenes such as beta-caryophyllene, and some New Zealand manuka also carries triketones that tea tree does not have.
Price: manuka yields far less oil per tonne of leaf, so it costs more.

Many people use manuka in the same DIY recipes as tea tree, especially on the face, simply because they prefer the smell. Use it the same way: diluted, and patch tested first.

New Zealand or Australian manuka, and what is East Cape manuka?

This is the question that separates one manuka oil from another, and most listings never answer it.

East Cape manuka (New Zealand): the high-triketone type, often quoted at over 20% triketones (leptospermone, flavesone and isoleptospermone). This is the most expensive grade.
Other New Zealand manuka: New Zealand has more than ten manuka chemotypes. Most are richer in sesquiterpenes and pinenes, with fewer triketones. Marlborough Sounds manuka sits around 15 to 20%.
Australian "manuka": the same species grown in Australia, much higher in monoterpenes and with essentially no triketones. A perfectly good oil, but a different one.

Ours is New Zealand manuka. We do not claim East Cape or quote a triketone figure, because we do not yet hold a batch GC report that measures it. When we have one, it will be published here. If an East Cape figure matters for your formulation, email support@ecodrop.co.uk before you buy.

Ordering from outside the UK? We're here to help.

Everything you need to know about delivery, customs and returns when ordering from outside the UK. Check out the most common questions, and if yours isn't here, just ask.

Customer service: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 17:00We usually reply within 24 hours

Contact us

Do you ship to Europe and worldwide?

Yes, we post from our UK warehouse to all EU countries, plus the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, the UAE, Japan, Singapore and more. If your country isn't offered at checkout, email us and we'll see what we can do.

How much is international delivery?

Flat and simple:

European Union: £8.99
USA & rest of the world: £11.99
United Kingdom: free over £40, otherwise £3.99

Will I have to pay customs or import fees?

Possibly, yes, and we'd rather tell you upfront. Orders delivered outside the UK can be charged local VAT, import duty or a courier handling fee on arrival. These charges are set by your country, not by us, and are paid by the customer. They're usually modest for small parcels, but we can't predict the exact amount.

Can I return an order from outside the UK?

Yes, you have 30 days from delivery, as long as the items are unopened and unused (a hygiene rule for oils). Return postage is at your cost, and we refund you in full within 3 to 5 working days of receiving the parcel. Just email us your order number first.

What if something arrives damaged or wrong?

That's on us, wherever you are in the world. Email a photo and your order number to support@ecodrop.co.uk and we'll send a replacement or a refund straight away, and we cover the postage.

Still unsure about ordering from abroad?

Ask us anything. We're a small UK team and a real person answers every message, usually within 24 hours. Write to support@ecodrop.co.uk or use the contact form. We're happy to help before you order, not just after.

Customer service: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 17:00We usually reply within 24 hours

Contact us

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Wild Manuka Essential Oil

Everyday uses

How to dilute

Technical information

Why you'll love it

The shrub behind the honey

For the jobs you gave tea tree

Essential Oil Uses

Your questions, answered

Five manuka blends

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