Down Under Enterprises grows, produces, exports, and markets traceable
and sustainable native Australian essential oils and botanicals grown on our farm, Buhlambar, and from across Australia producing essential oils and botanicals with unique functional and aromatic properties.

THE UPDATE

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DOWN UNDER

 

Keep up-to-date with our latest news, tips, product updates, special offers, and more.

 

February 2022

G’day mate,

I’m happy to deliver some very exciting news this month, the launch of our Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil!

This product launch, and all the tree plantings, has been 4 years in the making. We can now provide the largest supply of Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil globally!

Lemon Myrtle Oil hits so many consumer trends -- natural functionality, current fragrance trends, zero-waste, as well as upcycled ingredients.

Reach out to us to learn more about our Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil, or request a sample.

Read on to learn more:



Thanks for reading.

signature Phil MAR2020

Phil Prather

FEATURED PRODUCT

NEW: Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil – largest supply globally

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new product, Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil, certified to Organic NOP (USDA) and BioCE standards. This product launch has been 4 years in the making. Thousands of Lemon Myrtle trees have been propagated, meticulously planted and cared for, and a completely new distillation facility built. We are beyond thrilled to now offer the largest commercial supply of Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil, globally!

Our Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil is a sustainable upcycled ingredient from the (drinking) tea and culinary flavorings industry. Learn more about the trend to upcycled ingredients in our Sustainability section.

Lemon Myrtle’s aroma has often been described as “More lemon than lemon!”

The species, Backhousia citridora, commonly known as Lemon Myrtle is renowned for its phenolic compounds with tea drinkers and a popular ingredient in skincare, hair care and homecare.

Lemon Myrtle is the highest natural source of citral in the world. The safe use of this essential oil is well established in scientific studies at 1% concentration. The antimicrobial efficacy of Lemon Myrtle Oil is significant, which allows for its potential use as a formulation preservative and an antimicrobial active ingredient in personal care. Other studies reveal Lemon Myrtle Oil also offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functionality.

The multifunctional capability of this awesome Australian botanical has generated significant global market demand for the essential oil. It hits so many current consumer trends.

Citrus has consistently been the most popular fragrance component across all product categories on the MINTEL GNPD (Global New Products Database) over the last 5 years, from Personal Care, to Household, Pet, and Health & Hygiene markets.

According to MINTEL, consumer trends indicate that citrus fragrance may play a more prominent role in formulations for the foreseeable future for its application as a functional fragrance.

The last two years of living with the COVID pandemic have altered consumer fragrance demands – for both personal and home fragrance. There has been a move away from romance and seduction, towards more soothing and fresh scents and increased demand for mood-boosting fragrances. US consumers say that it is important that their fragrance makes them feel confident (46%) and happy (45%) according to a MINTEL consumer survey. 

Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil hits all these points, and with this large supply of Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil now coming to the market, we anticipate many formulated products to soon incorporate Lemon Myrtle as their “hero ingredient”.

Our in-house perfumist describes our Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle as having a sweet citrus top note that transitions into a green note with a hint of citrus floralcy at heart, and a facet of citronella at the base that feels more complex, diffusive, multifaceted, and longer-lasting than other Lemony oils and fragrances on the market.

Sample our NEW Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil
Contact your Down Under account manager or contact us directly and we will connect you with your local sales representative.

BENEFIT 1 – Largest supply of Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle in the world
BENEFIT 2 – Multifunctional: fragrance, preservative, antimicrobial
BENEFIT 3 – Upcycled ingredient from (drinking) tea industry - zero-waste
BENEFIT 4 – Consumer trend as a mood-boosting functional fragrance
BENEFIT 5 – Popular fragrance across multiple categories

THE EVIDENCE

Formulating with Lemon Myrtle - efficacy and safety

In-vitro assays have shown that Lemon Myrtle Oil has strong antimicrobial activity against the organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Aspergillus niger, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Propionibacterium acnes. Significant antimicrobial activity was observed against E. coli with an MIC of 0.03%.

In vitro cytotoxicity testing conducted by the same researchers revealed both Lemon Myrtle Oil and citral may have a toxic effect on human cell lines when concentrations exceed 1%.

February Newsletter (1)

A further study to determine the absorption and histopathology of lemon myrtle oil on full-thickness freshly excised human skin was conducted. A formulated product containing 1% lemon myrtle at 8 hours exposure showed limited damage to epidermal cells observed from histopathological assessment of exposed skin. The low toxicity of 1% lemon myrtle oil product was proposed for potential use in topical antimicrobial products.

Another study examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Lemon Myrtle leaves when extracted via ethanol under different time and heat conditions. The researchers measured the total polyphenol contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, and concentration of phenolic compounds of the extracts. Under optimal extraction conditions (80 C, and 6 h extraction time), the extracts showed the strongest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and the largest amount of phenolic compound. The researchers concluded that extracts of lemon myrtle leaves have potential as a valuable natural product with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

To access our IFRA Certificate and/or Allergen Statement for Lemon Myrtle Oil, click here.

For inspiration on product development with Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, please download the following sample formulation: Face Cream Formulation with Organic Lemon Myrtle.

IN THE NEWS

Another unique and exciting, little known Australian botanical is Kunzea

Another unique and exciting, little-known Australian botanical is Kunzea [KOON-zia]. Produced from the species Kunzea ambigua, this Australian native shrub is endemic along the South Eastern coastline of Australia, from Sydney to southern extremes. Production of this unique essential oil is primarily based in Tasmania. Consisting of a wide range of sesquiterpenes including α-pinene, 1,8 cineole, and viridifloral, it’s no wonder this shrub is attracting international attention for pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. Watch the recent news report on Kunzea Oil, and talk to us if it piques your interest.

 

FARM UPDATES

FARM UPDATES

Behind the scenes with Aroma Science Guy, Mark Webb!

We were lucky to have Australian native plant and aromatherapy expert Mark Webb, the Aroma Science Guy, visit us at our farm, Buhlambar, this month. Mark is the author of the eponymous Australian Essential Oil book, Bush Sense (visit his website HERE). So we jumped at the opportunity to get Mark’s insight on our home-grown Australian botanicals while he was visiting our farm, Buhlambar, and decided to film the sessions so we could share them with you.

Keep an eye out for these videos over coming months, where Mark shares in-depth commentary on each of the botanicals growing at our farm. In addition to the well-known Australian staple Tea Tree, Mark discusses our other plants grown on our farm: Lemon Myrtle, Lavender Tea Tree, Anise Myrtle, and Lemon Scented Tea Tree.

Listen to what Mark has to say about Lemon Myrtle Oil.

On the day, we also gave Mark a sneak peak on a soon-to-be-launched NEW Eucalyptus Oil – there’s nothing like it on the market! A bit of inside intel: it has a fresh green apple fragrance. Stay tuned for Mark's commentary on this unique new Eucalyptus Oil - and our launch announcement in an upcoming newsletter!

Aroma Science Guy - Mark Webb

 

TRACEABILITY

TRACEABILITY

Year-round harvest of Lemon Myrtle from Queensland

Our Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle is grown on farms in Far North Queensland, a subtropical rainforest region of the coastal hinterlands, and in central and southeastern Queensland.Lemon Myrtle Traceability

Lemon Myrtle in Australia is harvested fresh and available year-round.

Following the harvest of our Lemon Myrtle, two separate processes occur. The leaves are separated from the stems and dried using a continuous air drier. The dried leaves are then processed to a variety of cut sizes for use in a range of products, but mostly for drinking tea and culinary applications. The remaining stems and leaves are steam-distilled to produce the essential oil.

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

A by-product of Lemon Myrtle Tea Production

Our Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil is created from waste biomass of Lemon Myrtle Tea production. As only certain leaves are used for the tea production, the remaining part of the plant is given new life by being turned into Essential Oil.

Lemon Myrtle Tea

The distillation process also produces a by-product mulch that is returned to the soil around the lemon myrtle plants, preventing weed growth, slowing evaporation of moisture from the soil, as well as improving the soil nutrient character.

This method of sustainable farming fully meets the consumer demand for zero waste and upcycled ingredients. Waste from commodity and food farms around the world is gaining new life as ingredients in sustainable beauty products. In recent years, brands have increased the sustainability profile of their products through eco-friendly packaging. As brands now look to hit zero-waste ingredient targets, the upcycled ingredient movement can help them do just that. Our Lemon Myrtle Oil is definitely meeting these consumer expectations.

MINTEL analysts suggest that upcycled ingredients are the next evolutionary step on the path of sustainable beauty and personal care products. While this consumer demand might seem niche right now, by 2030 it is expected to be the industry standard.

 

My Favorite Oil

EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Dee-Ann Farm Tour Video: Lemon Myrtle

Listen to our Founder, Dee-Ann, discuss Lemon Myrtle Oil and the plantings on our farm, Buhlambar.