Preservatives for Formulas with Tea Tree Oil

Even when using Tea Tree Oil (Water Soluble) at 5%, which has some antimicrobial properties, it is generally still recommended to include a broad-spectrum preservative in your formulation.

Here's why:

• Comprehensive Protection: Tea Tree Oil may be effective against certain microbes, but a dedicated preservative provides broader protection against a wider range of bacteria, yeast, and mold that can contaminate water-based formulas during manufacturing or consumer use.
• Formula Stability: Water is prone to microbial growth. A preservative ensures the long-term stability and safety of your product by preventing spoilage and potential health risks associated with microbial contamination.
• Sufficient Concentration: While 5% is a significant amount for an active ingredient, it may not be sufficient to act as the sole preservative throughout the product's shelf life and under various conditions of use.

Natural/Non-Chemical Preservative Options

For those seeking preservatives perceived as more natural or less chemical, several options are available. It's important to note that the term "natural" can vary, and some effective options are nature-identical or derived from natural sources but processed.

Based on your preference and the available options, here are some suitable natural-origin or nature-identical preservatives that are water-soluble and offer broad-spectrum protection:

• NaturePreserve™ Ultra (Gluconolactone & Sodium Benzoate): This is described as a 100% natural preservative. It is water-soluble and effective in a pH range of 3-6. The recommended usage rate is 0.75-2.0%.
• PaeoniaPreserve™ (Natural Preservative): Derived from Paeonia root extract, this is a natural preservative that is soluble in water. It can be used as a single preservative at 2% or with others at 0.5-1.0%. Avoid heat above 60°C during mixing.
• Probio-Protect™ (Lactobacillus Ferment Preservative): This is a probiotic-derived ingredient that acts as a preservative but is not classified as a traditional preservative by some regulations, allowing for "preservative-free" claims. It is water-soluble and also offers moisturizing benefits. The recommended usage rate is 0.5-4.0% (recommended 2.0%). Avoid heat during mixing.
• Global Guard™ 221 (pH 2-7, Natural): A water-soluble, broad-spectrum preservative described as natural. It is effective in a pH range of 2-7. The recommended usage rate is 0.5-1.1%. Avoid heat above 45°C.
• Coco-Preserve™ (Preservative from Coconut Extract): Obtained from coconut extract, this is a natural-origin preservative that is directly water-soluble and broad-spectrum. It works well in a pH range of 4-8. The recommended usage rate is 0.8-1.5%. Avoid heat exceeding 50°C.
• NaturePreserve™ LB2: Described as natural origin, this is a water-soluble, broad-spectrum preservative effective at low pH values (2.0-6.5). The recommended usage rate is 0.5-1.0%. Avoid heat exceeding 50°C.

When choosing a preservative, consider the final pH of your formulation and the recommended usage rate for the specific product you select. Always perform a challenge test on your final product formulation to ensure the preservative system is effective.