Ajwain

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague

Chemotype: thymol

herbalphenolicthyme-likefreshgreen-cumin

PLANT PART: fruits
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: top-mid

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What’s inside this oil?

Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

herbalphenolicthyme-likefreshgreen-cumin

Aroma intensity: 80 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: top-mid

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A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY

Using it thoughtfully

Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.

Cited dermal maximum · leave-on: 1.4%
Phototoxicity: Not flagged in this profile
Oxidation risk: Unknown

A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.

Contraindications & cautions

majorAvoid with anticoagulant medication, major surgery, hemophilia, and other bleeding disorders because the oil is thymol- and carvacrol-rich and the reference summary flags blood-clotting concerns.
moderateSkin and mucous membrane irritation are noted in the reference summary, so undiluted leave-on use is not appropriate even though a 1.4% maximum dermal level is given.

Read the complete safety guide

Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches

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THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT

Inside the oil

14 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

This record is anchored to a directly read multi-population ajowan GC-MS dataset. Across normal and drought-stressed populations, the oil remained thymol-dominant, with gamma-terpinene and p-cymene as the principal supporting monoterpenes. Public safety and perfumery references also align on ajowan as a high-impact thyme-like oil: the Tisserand Institute skin-series notes give Ajowan EO a 1.4% topical maximum for irritation avoidance, and fragrance-directory records describe its odor as herbal/phenolic with high strength.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
Thymol	52.58%	40.21–61.44%	monoterpene phenol	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; thymol range 40.21-61.44%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
gamma-Terpinene	23.43%	19.46–26.96%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; gamma-terpinene range 19.46-26.96%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
p-Cymene	18.63%	15.09–20.32%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; p-cymene range 15.09-20.32%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
beta-Thujone	0.68%	0.45–0.81%	monoterpene ketone	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; β-Thujone range 0.45-0.81%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
Carvacrol	0.58%	0–0.81%	monoterpene phenol	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; Carvacrol range 0.00-0.81%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
beta-Pinene	0.57%	0.12–1.43%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; β-Pinene range 0.12-1.43%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
Myrcene	0.46%	0.24–0.58%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; Myrcene range 0.24-0.58%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
alpha-Thujene	0.35%	0.18–0.44%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; α-Thujene range 0.18-0.44%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
alpha-Terpinene	0.28%	0.12–0.44%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; α-Terpinene range 0.12-0.44%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
Pulegone	0.28%	0–0.71%	monoterpene ketone	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; Pulegone range 0.00-0.71%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
Terpinene-4-ol	0.24%	0–0.41%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; Terpinene-4-ol range 0.00-0.41%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
Sabinene	0.24%	0.14–0.33%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; Sabinene range 0.14-0.33%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
alpha-Pinene	0.11%	0–0.17%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; α-Pinene range 0.00-0.17%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)
cis-Sabinene hydrate	0.02%	0–0.21%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/19/3084 (Table 2, Normal stress populations, lines 1303-1342; cis-Sabinene hydrate range 0.00-0.21%; pct_typical computed as mean of 12 normal populations)

Profile source: Changes in Essential Oil Composition, Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Populations in Response to Water Deficit · https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11193084

A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY

Traditional & reported uses

These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.

Traditionally used as a culinary spice and in folk preparations for digestive discomfort.
Used in perfumery as a spicy, top-to-middle note material.

For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.