GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L.
Chemotype: thymol
- PLANT PART
- aerial flowering parts
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- mid-base
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
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.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 84 / 100
- Note layer
- mid-base
- Approximate tenacity
- 72–172 hours
If you like this scent, explore
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
- 1.3%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- high
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic furocoumarin-based restriction was identified in the reviewed thymol-type thyme sources; the safety concern is dermal irritation and sensitization rather than UV photosensitivity.
Contraindications & cautions
- majorThe Belgian advisory for Thymus vulgaris L. says do not use during pregnancy.
- majorThe same Belgian advisory says do not administer Thymus vulgaris L. to children under 12 years.
- moderateAvoid in persons allergic to thyme or other Lamiaceae plants because cross-reactivity is reported.
- moderatePhenolic thyme oils are skin-irritant oils; dilute carefully and avoid use on compromised skin.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
Anchored to ISO 19817:2017 thymol-type thyme oil and the Belgian Advisory Committee's oral-use monograph for Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L. The ISO standard specifies the steam-distilled oil from flowering tops and publishes Table 2 chromatographic ranges; pct_typical below is set to the midpoint of each cited ISO range because the standard does not publish a separate typical value. Odor and substantivity cues are aligned with public fragrance references for thymol-type/red thyme oil that describe a high-strength herbal, phenolic, camphoraceous profile with long substantivity. Safety fields reflect the official pregnancy/children cautions in the Belgian advisory and the thymol/carvacrol skin-irritation guidance summarized from Tisserand & Young.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-thujene | 1% | 0.5–1.5% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.5-1.5% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| alpha-pinene | 1.5% | 0.5–2.5% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.5-2.5% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| beta-myrcene | 1.9% | 1–2.8% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 1.0-2.8% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| alpha-terpinene | 1.75% | 0.9–2.6% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.9-2.6% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| gamma-terpinene | 8.5% | 4–13% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 4.0-13.0% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| p-cymene | 21% | 14–28% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 14.0-28.0% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| linalool | 3.5% | 0.5–6.5% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.5-6.5% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| terpinen-4-ol | 1.3% | 0.1–2.5% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.1-2.5% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| thymol | 45% | 35–55% | phenolic monoterpene | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 35.0-55.0% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| carvacrol | 3% | 0.5–5.5% | phenolic monoterpene | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.5-5.5% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| beta-caryophyllene | 2.25% | 0.5–4% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.5-4.0% range because no distinct typical value is published |
| trans-sabinene hydrate | 0.25% | 0–0.5% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; 'traces to 0.5%' was normalized to 0.0-0.5% and pct_typical set to the midpoint because no distinct typical value is published |
| carvacrol methyl ether | 0.8% | 0.1–1.5% | methoxy monoterpene | View sourceISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type Table 2, p. 5; pct_typical is the midpoint of the cited 0.1-1.5% range because no distinct typical value is published |
Profile source: ISO 19817:2017 Essential oil of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.], thymol type; Advice oral use of Essential Oils – Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L. · https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/66267/c98964659b2e4630964cbd6c243b59a6/ISO-19817-2017.pdf Table 2, p. 5; https://www.health.belgium.be/sites/default/files/media/files/2025-10/monografie_thymus_vulgaris_thymus_zygis.pdf pp. 1-3
What we're still learning · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- odor_intensity, volatility_rate, and tenacity_hours were normalized from odor-strength and substantivity references rather than directly published 0-100 perfumery scales.
- The trans-sabinene hydrate entry normalizes the ISO 'trace to 0.5%' profile line to a 0.0-0.5% range so the blend scorer can consume it consistently.