Eucalyptus water

Before their global circulation, eucalyptus species were deeply embedded in the lives of Aboriginal peoples in Austrália. Trees such as the manna gum were used for medicinal purposes, leaves applied for healing, and vapours inhaled for respiratory relief, while also holding cultural and ritual significance tied to land stewardship.

The movement of eucalyptus beyond Australia is entangled with the history of European expansion. Philosophies such as those proposed by John Locke argued that land only became property through labour and “improvement.” This idea later informed the doctrine of terra nullius, used to justify British claims over Australian land by framing it as unused or uncultivated, despite long-standing Indigenous presence and knowledge systems.

Naturalists like Joseph Banks documented eucalyptus during British expeditions, enabling its transfer into European botanical networks. By the 19th century, the species was introduced to Portugal, where it was widely planted for its rapid growth and economic value.

This work reflects on a reversal: a tree extracted from its ecological and cultural context, transported across continents, and reinserted into new territories where it spreads aggressively and reshapes local ecosystems.

The eucalyptus hydrosol becomes a sensory document, a distilled trace of a landscape shaped by ecological adaptation, industrial interests, and historical movement. It invites reflection on how smell can naturalise what was once foreign, and how systems of extraction and control continue to manifest through the materials that surround us.