Manuka Oil Frequently Asked Questions

(Scroll down the page to see the Tamanu Oil FAQ)

Does this product come in a larger size?

Yes, it does. As well as the popular 10ml size, it also comes in a 30ml size that gives you 25% more for your money.

I have an issue with my order, who do I contact?

Email us at customerlove@nzcountrymanuka.com and we will take care of the problem.

How do I obtain the NZ Country Manuka E-booklet after I have purchased it?

It will be sent automatically by email. If you haven’t received it right after you place your order, check your spam folder as it might be there. Otherwise, email us at customerlove@nzcountrymanuka.com and we’ll send it to you.

What does this oil smell like?

It has an extremely "earthy" aroma, like tree bark or a strong mulch. Where some find that tea tree oils have a minty or medicinal aroma to them, this is completely different. If you don’t like the aroma you can dilute it with another carrier oil or with Lemon or Lavender Oil to mask it. Remember, only a drop or 2 is all that is needed for most applications, and the smell does evaporate away after awhile.

Does it work on cold sores?

Yes, this Manuka oil dries up cold sores without irritating them. It also reduces swelling and heals within a few days. As most cold sores are actually viral infections, the anti-viral properties of Manuka oil get to the source of the infection.

Can this be used for mosquito bites?

Yes, we use Manuka Oil for mosquito bites and any other type of insect bite - works pretty well for the itchiness associated with the bites, and calms down the swelling.

What is the difference between 25% Manuka Healing Oil and 100% Manuka Oil

The 25% Oil is a milder version with added carrier oils to help spread it over larger areas of the skin such as large areas of rashes. As it has less of the 100% Manuka Oil in it (25%), it is less expensive

Can Manuka Oil be used for scalp and skin fungus?

Yes. It’s great for most types of scalp or skin fungus. Simply add a drop or 2 to the affected area, or add a drop to your shampoo before you apply it – which also helps with dandruff too.

Can you apply Manuka oil to the lips?

You can...it's not toxic on the skin. Customers have used it on bad spots when lips are chapped and the cracks are deep and sometimes bleeding. It closes the wounds and promotes healing really well. It tastes very bitter.

Can Manuka oil be used around the eyes?

Yes, with caution. It can be used near the eyes but it will irritate the eye severely if it gets inside the eye or tear ducts.

Does this oil dry quickly?

Yes, it does if you use it directly on the skin for example on a wart. If mixing it with vitamin E or any other type of oil, it takes a few minutes to sink into your skin.

Will Manuka oil help with a boil?

Applying a very small amount to a boil will definitely help heal boils if used a few times per day.

Can it be used in an oil diffuser?

Yes, many customers use the oil in a diffuser to help kill viruses particularly during flu and cold season.

Is Manuka oil effective in treating MRSA?

A customer of ours reported success by applying a few drops in the nose of a patient with an eyedropper twice per day. Apparently it cleared it right up.

Another customer commented “Yes not only once or twice, three times a success. This is the exact reason I ordered the product, wondering if it would work, and it has.”

Is this product really 100% Manuka Oil?

Yes, our product is 100% East Cape Manuka Oil. There is fake Manuka Oil out there which smells more like eucalyptus oil from India. If it’s much cheaper, then it will be fake. We have personally visited our supplier in New Zealand and inspect their natural distillation process yearly. Every shipment comes with batch numbers and chemical analysis for us to verify the oil before we bottle it here in the US.

Does Manuka oil have a UMF rating?

No, the UMF rating is a system for rating Manuka honey only. Manuka Oil is rated by the level of Triketones in it, which is the active ingredient that kills bacteria and fungal viruses. Manuka Oil from the East Cape of New Zealand, where this oil is sourced, has a 30%+ triketone level.

Other areas in New Zealand only have a 5-10% level. Not all Manuka Oil is the same. Each batch of our oil is tested in a lab - you will see on our bottle label in tiny print the Batch number (MO... for example) so we can identify the triketone level and assure the highest quality

Does this product work on acne and blackheads?

Yes, Manuka oil is very effective for treating most types of acne. If putting it on the face, mix it with 50% Lavender Essential Oil to make the odor more pleasant. After washing your face & drying thoroughly, put it on the blackheads and acne areas with a Q Tip and let it soak into the face.

Does your Manuka oil contain nut oils?

It does not contain nuts nor is it produced in a facility processing nuts. It is 100% pure Manuka oil, nothing added.

Is NZ Country Manuka oil free of pesticides?

Yes absolutely. The branches of the tree are wild-harvested from naturally growing stands and plantations. The oil in the leaves of the tree naturally repels harmful insects so pesticides are simply not needed.

Is Manuka oil effective in treating psoriasis?

It has been used by some of our customers with mixed results. The virus causing the condition is deep within the body and probably will not be killed with a purely topical treatment but it definitely helps. We highly recommend our Tamanu Oil for scalp and skin psoriasis however.

Would this manuka essential oil have a similar antibacterial effect benefits as manuka honey relative to MRSA?

Yes, it does. Manuka Honey can be used on the skin, but the oil is a lot more potent in this regard. In fact, it’s 1,000 times more antibacterial by volume.

Do you wear socks after doing the treatment for foot fungus or would it be better not to wear socks?

If it is a good idea to wear socks. Apply the Manuka oil and wait about 10 minutes before putting your socks on, so the oil penetrates well under the nail or skin. Also cotton socks are recommended until the skin/nails are completely healed so the feet can breathe.

What’s the difference between this and Tea Tree oil?

Manuka Oil is not irritating to the skin which some people find with Tea Tree Oil. The main difference is that Manuka Oil 10X is more antibacterial and antifungal than Tea Tree Oil by lab test so you need much to get the same effect.

How many drops are in a 10ml bottle?

A standard eyedropper dispenses 0.05 ml per drop, meaning there are 20 drops in 1 milliliter of medication. A 10 ml bottle has 200 doses. (Most eyedrop prescriptions are dispensed in either 5 or 10ml bottles.)

Does it come with an eyedropper?

Yes, comes with eyedropper. It is a thin oil so just squeeze the dropper lightly to get a small amount. A little Manuka oil goes a long way.

Is Manuka oil effective in treating head lice?

It is effective in treating head lice. Mix 5 -10 drops with the usual amount of shampoo used for the hair. Massage well on the scalp and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then comb out the dead lice from the hair and scalp. You can also apply directly on the scalp for very infected and inflamed, itchy areas. As in all head lice treatment, it removing the nits with a fine-tooth comb is necessary to prevent reinfestation.

What is the shelf life of Manuka oil?

If kept sealed at room temperature, the shelf life is three years.

Is it okay to mix this oil with other essentials oil like castor or olive oil for scalp massage?

Yes, it mixes well with any other kind of essential oil or carrier oil, even vegetable oils.

Are your products tested by a registered external testing company?

Absolutely! Here is the link to the MSDS:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0057/0130/4366/files/Manuka_Oil_MSDS_1.pdf?v=1674159114

Tamanu Oil Frequently Asked Questions

What color is the Tamanu Oil supposed to be?

It’s supposed to be a dark green color. If it is light yellow, it is highly refined, low quality, or not Tamanu Oil at all. Our oil is cold-pressed, dark green, and has all the natural ingredients still in it.

I have an issue with my order, who do I contact?

Email us at customerlove@nzcountrymanuka.com and we will take care of the problem.

How can I use it daily for mild scalp psoriasis?

Massage into affected areas on the scalp after you get out of the shower. This oil keeps the psoriasis areas moisturized all day and will help heal it.

Can Tamanu oil be applied to help dry lips?

Yes, it is very effective for treating any dry skin condition. With continued use, it should help any condition causing the lips to be unnaturally dry.

Where is this product made?

Our Tamanu oil is produced in Vanuatu, one of a group of Islands in the South Pacific north of Australia. It is made from expelling the oil from dried nuts of the Tamanu Tree which grows naturally by the sea.

Will Tamanu oil help clear scars from mosquito or flea bites, or acne scars?

Answer: It is excellent for reducing any kind of scarring, yes.

Can this be used together with an anti-itch cream?

Yes, apply the itch cream first and let your skin absorb it and then use the Tamanu oil on top.

Would this product be effective for cracked fingertips etc?

Yes, as the oil absorbs deep under the skin, continued use should cure dry skin, but it won’t repair cracked nails. The new nail should grow out healthier with continued use of the oil.

Can Tamanu oil be added into an essential oil blend or in coconut oil?

Tamanu oil is widely used as a base of many cosmetic preparations and blends well with other essential and carrier oils.

Can I apply this oil directly to my skin?

Yes - this is its exact use as a topical skin repairer. Many customers use it directly on their face as a moisturizer. After a couple of minutes, they blot with a tissue then apply cosmetics or other skincare products.

Will this help with scalp fungus or dry scalp issues?

It will help with fungus but will be more effective with dry scalp issues. For scalp fungus, our Manuka oil is more effective.

Will Tamanu oil be beneficial when used with a deep therapy cream?

Use it as-is for skin issues like age spots, scars or conditions like eczema or psoriasis. It will not interfere with any other cream you may be using.

Does this product affect hair color (I have natural silver white hair)?

No, it will not dye hair. Polynesian women have used it to moisturize and nourish their hair for centuries.

Does Manuka oil work on Cradle Cap?

Cradle Cap is also known as seborrheic dermatitis. Tamanu oil will help clear up cradle cap by healing the skin underneath causing the scales. Combine this with washing the baby’s scalp with mild baby shampoo as the scales loosen up and come away with healthy skin growing underneath.

How well does it work on poison ivy?

It will help ease inflammation, but we recommend using our Manuka Oil as it seems to neutralize the toxins the plant releases.

Can Tamanu Oil be used directly on the face?

Tamanu oil is very gentle but we recommend trying Tamanu Oil on your hand to see how your skin responds before applying it directly on the face.

Is Tamanu oil safe to use if I am allergic to nuts?

If you are allergic to nuts, we do not recommend using it, as the oil comes from the nuts of the Tamanu Tree.

Does this oil smell as strong or as bad as neem oil?

This oil has a mild 'nutty' smell. It dissipates almost immediately on skin contact. Neem oil is quite pungent in comparison, which is why it is used to repel insects.

Can you use this product on your eyelid?

We do not recommend using Tamanu oil near the eyes.

Will Tamanu oil help heal surgical scars?

Yes, it will help the healing process and with consistent use will greatly reduce the appearance of any resulting scar.

Is your Tamanu oil chemically extracted? Is any Hexane used in the extraction process?

No chemicals of any kind are used to extract the oil from the ripe nuts. They are cold-pressed and the oil is naturally filtered to remove any plant material.

What is the shelf life of Tamanu oil?

Tamanu oil will remain fresh for 2 years if kept at room temperature out of direct light. It is packed in dark colored glass bottles which helps preserve it out of the light.

Do you have to avoid contact with the sun when applying this product?

No, in fact Tamanu Oil is a natural sunscreen with an SPF factor of about 15. Polynesians used it in this way to protect themselves from harsh salty air and sun during their long sea voyages.

How can I know I am getting real Tamanu oil that isn’t fake?

Real Tamanu oil comes from the Polynesian Islands or Madagascar. The best oil is harvested from old trees growing near the shore. Plantation grown trees do not have the same properties as our naturally grown and harvested Tamanu oil from Vanuatu, South Pacific.

Do I have to mix this oil with a base or can it be used as is?

Tamanu is a base oil and should be used as is. That being said, it can be mixed with other essential oils to enhance it's qualities.