Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees in the Myrtaceae family native to Australia. Steam-distilled eucalyptus oil is a natural deodorizer and antiseptic, and has a piney, camphoraceous scent with a touch of honey that is known to soothe.

Of the over 700 varieties of eucalyptus that abound, most are native to Australia. Every state and territory within the country has its own representative species, and nearly three-quarters of Australian forests are comprised of eucalypts. This wasn't always the case, however; the oldest eucalyptus fossils are from South America, where eucalypts no longer grow naturally. Despite their current prominence in the Australian landscape, the fossil record of eucalypts is actually quite scarce through the Cenozoic Era, suggesting that the plant's rise is a somewhat recent development. The oldest known eucalyptus fossil is a 21-million-year-old tree stump found in New South Wales.

While the fossil record of eucalyptus dates back many millenia, it wasn't until until 1770 when the plant was added to botanical collections. French botanist Charles Louis L'Héritier coined the name eucalyptus in 1777, combining the Greek roots eu and calyptos, meaning "well" and "covered" in reference to the operculum, a cap-like structure that protects the developing flowers. It was luck and happenstance that L'Héritier chose a defining feature of all eucalypts when deciding on a name.

Today, eucalypts are impressive for their resilience. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable, and in some instances ignited plants have been known to explode. Since wildfires run rampant across their nativelands of Australia, many eucalypt species have adapted to fire, resprouting from the ashes.

Those same oils that make eucalypts susceptible to raging bush fires are also what make the plant so valuable. Eucalyptus plants are prized for their leaves, which are harvested and processed to be used for their essential oils. Of the hundreds of varieties, the most commonly harvest type of eucalyptus is the Eucalyptus globulus, as its leaves contain 70 percent oil.

That oil is steam distilled and used in a variety of products, from toothpaste to deodorant to decongestants. Aromatherapists widely use eucalyptus oil for both its soothing scent and extensive range of health benefits including being anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic.

The plants usages don't end their, though; eucalypt wood is commonly used in the production of didgeridoos, a tradition Aboriginal wind instrument in which the trunk of the eucalyptus tree is hollowed out by termites and then cut into the appropriate size and shape. The wood is also commonly used in papermaking, as eucalyptus' short fibers lend themself to soft, thin materials like tissue paper.

In AMASS Four Thieves and Forest Bath, eucalyptus lends a fresh forest aroma dotted with notes of warm honey and mint.