Distilled from Indonesian clove buds

The bud, not the leaf or the stem. That distinction is the whole product.

Clove Bud Essential Oil 10mL

Clove yields three different oils depending on which part of the tree is distilled. Bud oil is the finest and the most expensive; leaf and stem oils are cheaper, harsher and much higher in eugenol. Zea's is bud oil, from Indonesia, steam distilled from the unopened flower buds that become the spice in your cupboard.

★★★★★ 4.9 average from 15,000+ verified reviews across the Zea range

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Free shipping on orders over $75. Pack savings applied at checkout. Need bulk? Talk to us about wholesale volumes.

  • Bud oil, not leaf or stem
  • GC/MS tested, every batch
  • Certified B Corporation
Zea Clove Bud Essential Oil 10mL bottle
Clove Bud Essential Oil styled product photograph Clove Bud Essential Oil in a styled setting Zea Clove Bud Essential Oil bottle
Clove Bud Essential Oil

What Clove Bud actually is.

Clove Bud is steam distilled from the unopened flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllata, also written Syzygium aromaticum. It is the same material as the culinary spice, picked before the flowers open and dried. The aroma is spicy and rich, exactly like actual cloves, because it is actual cloves.

From bush to bottle

Clove Bud Essential Oil in a styled setting
Step one · grown

A tropical evergreen, and a long wait

Syzygium aromaticum is a slow tropical evergreen. A tree takes several years before it flowers at all, and the crop is the flower buds rather than the fruit, which means the harvest window is narrow and timing matters.

Clove Bud Essential Oil styled with spice
Step two · harvested

Picked before they open

The buds must be picked while still closed and pink. Let them open and the material is spent. They are then dried until they turn the familiar hard brown nail shape, and it is those dried buds that go to the still.

Zea Clove Bud Essential Oil bottle
Step three · distilled

Steam distilled from bud only

Only bud material is distilled for this oil. Leaf and stem are distilled separately into cheaper, harsher oils. Nothing is added afterwards and every batch is GC/MS tested.

Clove Bud Essential Oil

Bud, leaf and stem are three different products.

Clove leaf oil and clove stem oil both exist, both are legitimately labelled clove, and both are considerably cheaper than bud oil. They are also higher in eugenol and correspondingly harsher on skin, with a flatter, more phenolic aroma that lacks the sweetness of the bud.

Bud oil retains the rounded, spicy-sweet character people recognise from the spice itself, because it comes from the part of the plant the spice comes from. If a label says only clove oil, it is worth knowing which of the three you have bought. This one says bud, and it is bud.

Quality and testing

What “100% pure” actually means on this bottle.

Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis. The full constituent breakdown sits on the batch certificate rather than here, because the ranges shift with each season and harvest.

Botanical name
Eugenia caryophyllata (Myrtaceae)
Botanical origin
Indonesia
Place of extraction
Indonesia
Plant part
Buds
Method
Steam distillation
Odour
Spicy and rich, like actual cloves
Also written
Syzygium aromaticum
Strength of aroma
Medium to strong
Additions
None. No synthetics, fillers or additives
Storage
Below 30°C, dry, away from direct sunlight
Clove Bud Essential Oil

Indonesia, where clove has been traded for a very long time.

Clove is native to the Maluku Islands and Indonesia remains the world's largest producer, most of it consumed domestically. It is one of the original spice-trade commodities, which is a reminder that this is an agricultural product with a long history rather than a modern extract.

Clove bud, leaf and stem

  Bud (this one) Leaf Stem
Part distilled Unopened flower buds Leaves Stems
Eugenol level Lower of the three Higher Higher
Aroma Spicy, rich, rounded Flatter, more phenolic Harsh, woody
Skin friendliness Still needs care Harsher Harshest
Relative cost Highest Lower Lowest
Stocked by Zea Yes No No

A botanical and aroma comparison to help you choose between oils. It is not a claim that one oil performs better than another.

Properties

What Clove Bud is traditionally valued for.

Antiviral Antifungal Antioxidant Enhances concentration Improves circulation Uplifting and stimulating

Traditional and aromatherapy properties associated with this oil. Individual results differ, and this is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.

Ways to use it

Diffuse it

3 to 6 drops in a diffuser or oil burner. The simplest way in.

Blend it

Clove Bud blends with Cedarwood, Sweet Orange, Frankincense and the warming spices.

Diluted on skin

One or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba. Patch test first.

On a tissue

One drop inhaled from a tissue when you want the aroma on the move.

Room and linen mist

A few drops in water instead of a synthetic air freshener.

In the bath

Well dispersed in a carrier or with bath salts, never neat on water.

Natural cleaning

A few drops in a homemade surface spray as a fresh deodoriser.

A winter diffuser blend

One drop with Sweet Orange. Clove is very strong, so start low.

Using it safely

Clove Bud is one of the strongest oils in the range on skin. Please read these before using it.

  • Clove Bud is a dermal irritant. It is eugenol-rich and must be very well diluted before any skin contact. Use it at a low percentage and patch test first.
  • Never apply it undiluted, including to gums or teeth. Never take it internally.
  • Not for use on babies or children, and not on damaged or sensitive skin.
  • Avoid contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children.
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your health practitioner first.
  • Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Store below 30°C, out of direct sunlight.

What customers tell us

★★★★★

A favourite oil

“I have recently purchased some essential oils, clove bud, sweet orange, lavender, patchouli and lemon ironbark. They are the best oils I have purchased for a very long time and I will certainly be ordering again.”

Braelyn L. · Verified buyer

★★★★★

Quality and fragrance

“Zea essential oils are really beautiful, excellent quality and the most beautiful fragrances. The service is always prompt and your oils are packed very carefully.”

Carolyn H. · Verified buyer

★★★★★

Among the best

“I use essential oil such a lot, and Zea are among the best.”

Beverly S. · Verified buyer

Five-star reviews from verified Judge.me buyers. The second and third speak to the Zea Essentials range rather than to this oil specifically. Individual experiences differ.

Complete your blending kit

Clove Bud is a warm, powerful spice note. A little goes a long way, and these are its partners.

Zea Sweet Orange Essential Oil 10mL

Sweet Orange Essential Oil 10mL

Warm citrus over the spice. The classic winter pair.

$14.95

Zea Cedarwood Essential Oil 10mL

Cedarwood Essential Oil 10mL

Woody warmth alongside it.

$19.95

Zea Kunzea Essential Oil 10mL

Kunzea Essential Oil 10mL

Foresty depth under the spice.

$24.95

Zea Frankincense Essential Oil 10mL

Frankincense Essential Oil 10mL

Resinous and warming together.

$32.95

Zea May Chang Essential Oil 10mL

May Chang Essential Oil 10mL

Sweet citrus, softer than orange.

$24.95

Zea Unscented Massage Carrier Oil 100mL

Unscented Massage Carrier Oil 100mL

Unscented base. Clove Bud must be well diluted.

$17.95

Single origin Australian essential oils since 2016

15,000+ verified reviews, 4.9 average
Certified B Corporation
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Certified Cruelty Free

Questions, answered

What is Clove Bud Essential Oil?

A 100% pure essential oil, steam distilled from the unopened flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllata in Indonesia. It is bud oil rather than the cheaper leaf or stem oil, and it is GC/MS tested.

What does it smell like?

Spicy and rich, exactly like the culinary spice, with a rounded sweetness that leaf and stem oils lack.

How do I use it?

Start with 3 to 6 drops in a diffuser. For skin, dilute one or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and patch test first.

What is the difference between bud, leaf and stem oil?

They are distilled from different parts of the same tree. Leaf and stem oils are cheaper and higher in eugenol, which makes them harsher on skin and flatter in aroma. Bud oil keeps the rounded, spicy-sweet character of the spice.

Can I use it for toothache?

Not from this bottle, and not undiluted. Clove Bud is a dermal irritant and applying an undiluted essential oil to gums or teeth is not something we recommend. See a dentist.

Can I put it straight on my skin?

No. Never apply an undiluted essential oil and never take one internally. Dilute in a carrier oil first, and patch test.

Is it tested?

Yes. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis, which is how the specifications on this page are established.

Is it safe around children and pets?

Keep it out of reach of children and never apply it undiluted. Diffuse in a ventilated room rather than a closed space. Check with your vet before diffusing around pets.

How should I store it?

Below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap on firmly. The lighter constituents are always the first to escape.

How do the pack savings work?

Choose your pack above and the discount applies automatically at checkout. No code needed: 5% off 3 or more, 10% off 5 or more eligible Zea products.

What does shipping cost?

Free on Australian orders over $75. Orders are dispatched from our Australian warehouse.

Zea Clove Bud Essential Oil 10mL

Bud oil, and it says so.

Free shipping on Australian orders over $75 · 100% pure · GC/MS tested · Indonesian clove buds. Choose your pack and we will get it on its way.

Choose your pack

Clove Bud Essential Oil is an aromatherapy product for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always dilute before use and follow the label directions. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents, not to an outcome from using this product. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

Clove Bud Essential Oil Clove Bud Oil 10mL