Tasmanian Pepper is a key ingredient within our Tasmanian Pepper & Lavender blend - chosen for its powerful germ killing properties. We wanted to share the science behind this impressive native Australian oil - well documented for its potent antimicrobial activity.
A study in 2012 by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation was undertaken to assess the microbial activity of Tasmanian pepper leaf and berry extracts. The leaf and extracts were tested against bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) and Escherichia coli (ecoli), Geotrichum candidum (fungi), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and Aspergillus niger (black mould) and found to be highly effective in the inhibition of each microorganism. A concentration of just 10 parts per 1000 was required to kill all the staph, fungi, yeast and mould in the sample - and over 97% of the ecoli.
This powerful response is thought to stem from the plant's high concentration of polygodial - a compound that disrupts the membranes of bacteria and fungus such as Staph, E-coli and black mould.
Another recent study, performed by the Department of Primary Industry in Queensland has yielded similar results and confirmed Tasmanian pepper to be highly effective against bacteria, yeast and fungi - documenting its proficiency for use in cleaning products that require mould control such as bathroom and kitchen cleaners.
Based on this research we designed our first signature scent around Tasmanian Pepper - blending it with other oils like lavender that also have anti-bacterial properties to create a blend that is very powerful yet imparts a soothing, natural fragrance.
The antibacterial effectiveness of the Bondi Wash range is important and over the past few years we have undertaken our own independent lab testing to verify the effectiveness of our products against a range of pathogens. Our Bench Spray, Hand Spray and Mist Spray in Tasmanian Pepper & Lavender are all found to 'kill 99.99% of germs'. Our Yoga Mat Spray, Travel Spray, and Mist Spray (in all other scents) have been independently lab tested to confirm they 'kill 99.9% of germs'. If you would like more information on our independent lab testing or the studies we reference here please get in touch via hello@bondiwash.com.au.
