Yes, yes, yes: tea tree oil = antiseptic. Well, duh. I generally am displeased by the scent, but desperate times often call for scents I desperately dislike.

I had the itchiest, worst mosquito bite, and it was driving me demented. A quick jaunt around the internet disclosed the fact that the oil of tea tree was a good way to get rid of it, and my eye fell on the little tub that had been sitting on my desk for the last while.

I’ve tried a number of the Australian Bodycare products — the best so far having been an excellent full leg/bikini wax I got from Bespoke Beauty in Donnybrook. I wasn’t as mad about the shampoo/conditioner, again because: the smell. I was RW&A to give this stuff a go, though, as I usually like the texture of a balm, and its cooling quailities.

In a word: perfect.

> It absorbs quickly and lightly, it took away the itch on contact, and it really is rather pleasantly resinous. Well, I would say that now, given that it did such a great job.

> The texture is a little bit grainy, and needs a nice warm-up between the fingers to get the best out of it.

> I still needed it the next day — this was one massive mozzie — but today I only lashed some on as I’ve easily gotten into the habit.

Would I use it for anything else? I might possibly try it on my cuticles or on my heels — basically, the further away from my nose the better — but this is now and always my go-to itchbuster.

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€14.95/£12.84

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