Australian skincare brands with native botanicals: Kakadu plum, lemon myrtle, quandong and more

Bars of pure Marseille and Aleppo soap, 2024

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A hand wash that smells of lemon myrtle. A body lotion with desert lime on the label. A serum built around quandong. Native botanicals have gone from bush pantry to bathroom shelf, and they make a lovely gift for anyone who misses the smell of home.

This guide does something a bit unusual for a skincare article. It doesn’t tell you what any of these products will do for your skin. We’ll leave that to the brands and to health professionals. Instead, it explains where each native ingredient comes from, which Australian brands use them, and what to check before you buy one as a gift.

How we pick

  • Ingredients and origin only. We describe what each plant is, where it grows and where each brand says it’s from. We make no claims about what any product does for skin, hair or health, and we don’t repeat the brands’ own claims.
  • Brands’ own words, linked. Every brand detail comes from the brand’s own website, quoted and linked. We haven’t tried, tested or reviewed any of these products.
  • No Indigenous-owned claims unless verified. We haven’t verified any of the brands below as Aboriginal- or Torres Strait Islander-owned, so we don’t describe them that way. The section on who benefits explains how to check.
  • “Australian made” only where the brand says so. We link that claim when we use it.
  • No prices. Check the brand’s site.

The native ingredients

Kakadu plum

Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) is a tree of the tropical north.

A Victorian Traditional Owner strategy reported by Food & Drink Business notes that wild harvest remains the dominant source of Kakadu plum. That makes who harvests it, and on whose Country, a fair question to ask. Our guide to native-flavour food gifts covers the same plant in the kitchen, and the same ownership checks apply.

Lemon myrtle

Lemon myrtle is best known for the lemony scent and flavour of its leaves. One supplier of dried leaves describes its flavour as “vibrant, refreshing and citrusy” with “delicate hints of menthol”. In body care, it usually turns up as a scent in hand washes, soaps and lotions.

Quandong

Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) is a native fruit. The Australian National Botanic Gardens notes how variable it is, forming anything from a one-metre-high shrub to a six-metre-high tree. In skincare ingredient lists, look for “Santalum acuminatum fruit extract”.

Desert lime, wild rosella and the rest

These three are the headliners, but brands also use desert lime, Davidson plum, wild rosella, flannel flower, boronia and others. If the plant matters to the person, look for a brand that tells you where it sourced it.

Brands that use native botanicals

These are Australian brands whose own websites put native botanicals front and centre. They’re listed in no particular order, and listing isn’t an endorsement.

Leif

Leif makes hand, body and hair care, and its products are named for native plants.

  • Native ingredients in the range: the brand’s hand collection lists a Kakadu plum product (check the page for the current range), and its body lotion collection includes a Desert Lime Body Lotion.
  • Good gift for: someone who’d like a hand wash and lotion pair for the kitchen or bathroom.

See Leif

Koala Eco

Koala Eco makes hand washes, cleaners and room sprays scented with essential oils. Its FAQ says its Australian products are “made locally using Australian essential oils”.

  • Good gift for: the home-proud. A hand wash or room spray is an easy, practical gift.

See Koala Eco

Ere Perez

Ere Perez is a natural cosmetics brand whose range includes a Quandong Green Booster Serum. If ownership or cruelty-free certification matters to the person you’re buying for, check the brand’s own site for its current details.

  • Good gift for: the person who reads ingredient lists, and likes their skincare to have a story.

See Ere Perez

Bosisto’s

Bosisto’s is better known for eucalyptus oil than skincare, but it has a long history with native plants. Its own story page traces the business back to 1852 and Australia’s native eucalypts.

  • Good gift for: someone who’d love a classic Aussie brand in the bathroom cabinet. Check the brand’s site for its current body-care range.

See Bosisto’s

Who benefits? The question to ask

Native botanicals come from someone’s Country, and the industry has a long way to go on fairness. For the bush food industry, the University of Sydney estimated it was worth $81.5 million in 2019–20, according to SBS News, and in the same story Koori chef Chris Jordan says less than 3 per cent of it is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned.

Before you buy, ask:

  1. Who owns the brand? If a brand says it’s Indigenous-owned, check for a clear statement and look it up. SBS Food points to Supply Nation and Trading Blak, among others, for finding Aboriginal businesses.
  2. Where does the ingredient come from? A good brand names the plant, the region and its supplier. For wild-harvested plants such as Kakadu plum, ask who harvests it and how they benefit.
  3. Is the culture being borrowed? Be wary of packaging that uses Aboriginal-style art without naming a licensed artist. Our guide to buying First Nations art and gifts ethically explains what to look for.

Before you give skincare as a gift

Skincare is personal, so a bit of care goes a long way.

  • Ask about allergies and sensitivities first. Product Safety Australia’s cosmetic ingredients labelling guide includes advice for people who have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, so it’s worth a read. If you’re not sure about the person’s skin, choose a different gift.
  • Read the full ingredient list, not just the botanical on the front. The native plant may be one ingredient among many, and fragrance can come from several sources.
  • Play it safe with a scent they already like. If they love lemon, lemon myrtle is a good bet. If they don’t like strong scents, look for a lightly scented or unscented option, or pick a different gift.
  • Keep the receipt. Check the returns policy, including whether opened skincare can go back.

Sending skincare overseas

Liquids, creams and aerosols can be tricky to post, and some countries control plant products at the border. New Zealand Customs, for example, lists “plant and animal products, including food and accessories” among items that need permission on its receiving items from overseas page. Check the Australia Post guide for your destination, pack liquids carefully, and post early: our Australia Post Christmas cut-off dates 2026 guide has the dates. A bar of soap or a solid balm can be simpler to pack than a bottle.

Gift pairings

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Written by our editors. No health, skin-benefit or medical claims are made or implied. Brand details are from the brands’ own websites. Last checked: 1 November 2026.

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