Lemon Myrtle: Australia's Native Skincare Secret Worth Knowing About
If you've ever walked through the subtropical rainforest of Queensland, you may have brushed past a lemon myrtle tree without knowing it. That clean, intensely citrusy scent hanging in the air? That's citral — the compound that makes lemon myrtle one of the most remarkable native plants Australia has to offer, and one of nature's most effective skincare ingredients.
We've been working with this incredible botanical here at Fulham Homestead for a while now, and the more we learn about it, the more we love it.
What Makes Lemon Myrtle So Special?
Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is native to the subtropical rainforests of south-east Queensland and has been used by First Nations Australians for thousands of years — as food, medicine, and a natural antiseptic. Modern science has since confirmed what Indigenous communities already knew: this plant is extraordinarily potent.
The key is citral. Lemon myrtle has one of the highest citral concentrations of any plant on earth — far exceeding lemon, lime, and even lemongrass. Citral is a naturally occurring compound with powerful antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Some research suggests its antimicrobial action is actually more potent than tea tree oil, which is saying something in Australian skincare circles.
For your skin, that translates to:
- Natural cleansing without harsh synthetic surfactants
- Help keeping acne-causing bacteria at bay
- Calming redness and surface irritation
- A fresh, bright, unmistakably Australian scent that's quite unlike anything artificial
Why It Pairs So Well With Grass-Fed Tallow
At Fulham Homestead, we're always on the lookout for Australian botanicals that complement our grass-fed tallow base — and lemon myrtle is one of the best pairings we've found.
Tallow is rich in oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid — the same fatty acids found naturally in healthy human skin. It supports the skin barrier, locks in moisture, and leaves skin genuinely nourished rather than stripped. When you add lemon myrtle essential oil to that tallow base, something really lovely happens: the tallow does the heavy lifting of moisturising and protecting, while lemon myrtle brings its gentle cleansing and antimicrobial action.
It's a pairing that makes sense on every level — both are natural, both have long histories of traditional use, and both work with your skin rather than against it. And there's something quietly satisfying about using an ingredient that genuinely belongs here in Australia — grown in Queensland rainforests, distilled into pure essential oil, and made into soap on a Victorian homestead.
Is Lemon Myrtle Right for Your Skin?
Most people find lemon myrtle very agreeable, even on sensitive skin. Because its cleansing properties come from natural citral rather than synthetic preservatives or surfactants, it tends to be far gentler than many conventional ingredients.
It's a particularly good option if you're prone to occasional breakouts, deal with oiliness, or simply want that clean, fresh feeling after washing without reaching for something medicinal. The scent is uplifting and distinctly bush-fresh — very different from the artificial lemon fragrance you'd find in a supermarket product.
If you have a known sensitivity to citrus-derived ingredients, it's always worth doing a patch test first — as you would with any essential oil.
Our Lemon Myrtle Soaps
We've incorporated lemon myrtle into two of our handmade soaps here on the homestead:
Our Just Tallow Soap 6% Lemon Myrtle keeps things beautifully simple — pure grass-fed tallow with a generous 6% superfat and lemon myrtle essential oil. Nothing else. No fillers, no synthetic fragrance, nothing you can't pronounce. It's our most pared-back option for those who want that bright lemon myrtle scent on a solid, nourishing tallow base.
For something a little more classic in style, the Heritage Soap – Lemon Myrtle uses the same tallow foundation at a 5% superfat and produces a rich, creamy lather with a slightly more rounded scent profile. It's been a favourite with customers who love a traditional-feel bar.
Both are handmade in small batches at Fulham Homestead, Victoria — using grass-fed tallow and ingredients we're genuinely proud of.
If you haven't tried lemon myrtle in your skincare yet, we think it's well worth it. Your skin — and your nose — will probably agree.