A homesteading, off-the-grid, or prepping family should keep at least 24 bottles of essential oil on hand for every three members of the family or group. Tea tree oil is a must for every bug out bag and first aid kit.

Making vs. Buying

Melaleuca alternifolia trees (a.k.a. "tea trees") grow mostly in Australia, which limits access to raw leaves for many. Fortunately, you can also buy the leaves wholesale. Either way, the steam distillation process must be used to create this essential oil.  The essential oil contains 48 natural compounds and no one can reproduce it synthetically. Effective grades of tea tree oil can typically be purchased for around $5 to $7 per bottle, either online or at a local store.

How to Make Tea Tree Oil
If you have a source of leaves, use the following directions to make the oil.

Place tea tree leaves in a pot and pour in only enough water to cover the leaves. Put a vegetable steamer into the pot over the top of the leaves and water.
Place a measuring cup inside the vegetable steamer.
Place the lid on the pot upside down so that the handle nub in the center is pointing towards the measuring cup.
Turn the stove on high to boil the water and steam the leaves. The water will soon begin to condense and evaporate. The condensation will slide towards the handle and into the measuring cup.
Put about four ice cubs on top of the upside-down pot lid to hasten the steam condensation.
Once all the ice had melted, turn off the stove burner.
Take off the lid and pour the ice cube water into the sink. Remove the glass measuring cup next – use pot-holders when completing both of these steps.
Pour the measuring cup contents into a separating funnel. The stopcock at the bottom of the funnel must be closed. Close the top of the funnel and shake vigorously.
Invert the funnel and then open to release pressure. The oil will float to the top of the water, effectively separating the two substances.
Place a glass bottle beneath the stopcock and release the water. Pour the tea tree oil into a different glass bottle, preferably one dark in color.
Repeat the same process up to three more times to pull more oil from the same tea-tree leaves.