Philosophy

Every ingredient in a Djara formulation is chosen carefully and included for a reason. Nothing is added for effect, and nothing is left out for convenience.

The formulations use nourishing plant oils, gentle cleansing agents derived from coconut and plant sugars, and fragrance built entirely from pure essential oils and natural botanical extracts — no synthetic fragrance compounds.

A number of ingredients are excluded across the entire range — parabens, SLS and SLES, PEGs, EDTA, mineral oil, palm oil, silicones, phthalates, propylene glycol, synthetic dyes, and harsh detergents. These are formulation decisions, not marketing ones.

Running through the range are native Australian botanicals — chosen with care and consideration of how they have been used traditionally. They are part of a longer story about this land, and one we take seriously.

Packaging

The 500ml hand wash and hand balm are housed in amber glass — chosen for its weight and feel as much as its ability to protect the formulation from light. Amber glass is infinitely recyclable.

The 50ml hand balm travels in an aluminium tube with an aluminium cap — no plastic. The 1L refill is housed in a tin, designed to reduce the number of glass vessels needed over time.

Aluminium has been used wherever possible — caps, tubes, tins. A small number of components remain plastic at this stage, including the pump mechanism.

Native Australian ingredients

The native botanicals in the Light Series span both plant extracts and essential oils, each specific to their scent. Indigenous names are included where known — this is a living record, and we acknowledge it is not complete.

INGREDIENT	FOUND IN	TRADITIONAL USE	SKIN BENEFIT
Kakadu Plum Terminalia ferdinandiana Gubinge / Murunga (various language groups, northern Australia)	First Light	Consumed as food and medicine by First Nations people in northern Australia for thousands of years. Used for its potent antibacterial and healing properties, and eaten on hunting trips for quick energy and nourishment.	The world's richest natural source of vitamin C — up to 100 times more than an orange. Powerful antioxidant that brightens, protects against environmental damage, and supports skin renewal.
Mountain Pepperberry Tasmannia lanceolata Known across various language groups of south-eastern Australia as a culinary and medicinal plant	First Light	Used by Aboriginal peoples of Tasmania and south-eastern mainland Australia as both food and medicine. Leaves and berries were applied to treat skin conditions, wounds, and infections. Crushed berries were made into a paste for toothache and gum pain.	Potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with natural antimicrobial properties. Helps soothe irritated skin and supports the skin's natural defences against environmental stressors.
Blue Cypress Callitris intratropica Native to northern Australia	First Light, Golden Hour	The resin and wood of Callitris species have been used by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years — burned in smoking ceremonies for spiritual and medicinal purposes, and applied as a natural insect repellent.	Anti-inflammatory and grounding. Soothes reactive skin and has natural antimicrobial properties. One of the few essential oils native to Australia.
Desert Lime Citrus glauca Bush lime / wild lime (various groups, arid inland Australia)	Afternoon Sun	One of the foods traditionally gathered by Indigenous Australians across arid inland regions for thousands of years. The fruit was consumed fresh for its high vitamin content and used in remedies for skin and general health.	Exceptionally high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and citric acid. Brightening, gently resurfacing, and protective — supports a radiant, even skin tone.
Lilly Pilly / Riberry Syzygium luehmannii Ngwan (Bundjalung, Byron Bay region) / Midjuburi (Sydney region)	Afternoon Sun	Featured widely in traditional Aboriginal medicine across eastern Australia for generations. Known as 'medicine berries' — used to treat wounds, skin conditions, and sore ears, and consumed as an immune system booster and general tonic.	Rich in vitamin C, fruit acids, and antioxidants. Supports collagen production, gently refines skin texture, and helps protect against free radical damage and premature ageing.
Lemon Myrtle Backhousia citriodora Native to subtropical Queensland	Afternoon Sun, Golden Hour	Used by Aboriginal peoples for over 40,000 years as a food flavouring, bush medicine, and healing plant. Leaves were wrapped in paperbark to flavour fish, crushed and inhaled for headaches, and applied for skin conditions and colds.	Powerfully antibacterial and antifungal. Refreshing, cleansing, and brightening. Supports a clear, healthy skin surface.
Wattle Seed Acacia victoriae Elegant Wattle (various groups, central and arid Australia)	Golden Hour	Seeds of the Acacia genus have been a staple food source for Aboriginal communities in central and arid Australia for thousands of years — ground into flour for bread and used as a high-protein food. Medicinally, infusions and smoke treatments were used for skin complaints and infections.	Rich in amino acids, proteins, and flavonoids. Conditions and softens skin, supports hydration, and contributes to a smooth, supple texture.
Rosalina Melaleuca ericifolia Native to south-eastern Australia — a member of the tea tree family	Golden Hour	Related to tea tree, Rosalina grows along the south-eastern Australian coast. Tea tree species have been widely used by Aboriginal communities for generations as natural antiseptics — leaves were crushed and applied to wounds, infections, and skin conditions.	Gentle antimicrobial with a soft, lavender-like quality. Calming and suitable for sensitive skin.
Quandong Santalum acuminatum Guwandhang (Wiradjuri) / native peach / bush peach (various desert peoples)	Golden Hour	A staple bush food and medicine of desert peoples — including the Pitjantjatjara — for over 40,000 years. The fruit was eaten fresh or dried. The kernel was ground into paste and applied to skin sores, boils, cuts, and burns. Roots were used as an infusion to treat rheumatism.	Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich. Protects against environmental stress, supports hydration, and helps soothe and condition dry or sensitised skin.
Sandalwood Santalum spicata Waang / Wolgol (Noongar, WA) / Dutjahn (Martu, Gibson Desert)	Golden Hour	A sacred tree to Aboriginal communities of Western Australia for tens of thousands of years. Elders chewed the nuts into a paste applied to skin sores, cuts, burns, and dry skin. The wood was burned in smoking ceremonies for healing and spiritual purposes. Considered both a food and a medicine.	Deeply nourishing, calming, and barrier-supportive. Conditions, softens, and leaves a warm, lasting sensory impression.
Macadamia Oil Macadamia ternifolia Kindal Kindal / Boombera / Jindilli (various groups, QLD & NSW)	All products	Treasured as a delicacy and traded as ceremonial gifts between clans at inter-tribal gatherings. Groups including the Budjilla gathered to harvest the nuts and used macadamia oil as a base for liniment and as body and face paint.	Rich in palmitoleic acid — a fatty acid that closely mirrors the skin's own natural lipids. Deeply nourishing and fast-absorbing. Leaves hands soft and conditioned without greasiness.

The traditional use information in this table is drawn from our own research and reflects our best understanding at this time. We hold this knowledge with care and acknowledge that it is not complete. If your mob has a connection to any of these ingredients and would like to share how your community has traditionally used them, we’d genuinely love to hear from you. This is a living record, and we want it to grow.

Get in touch at hello@djara.com.au

What we exclude

No palm oil. No mineral oil. No parabens. No SLS or SLES. No phthalates. No silicones. No Cocamide DEA. No synthetic dyes. No propylene glycol. No harsh detergents. No PEGs or EDTA. Not tested on animals.