Pure Thyme Essential Oil

Thyme is a small woody herb from the Mediterranean, and the oil is distilled from the leaves and flowering tops. If you've crushed thyme between your fingers while cooking, you know the smell already: sharp, green and slightly peppery. The oil is that scent turned up considerably. 

It's worth knowing that thyme grown in different places produces chemically different oils, called chemotypes. Thyme grown high in the mountains tends toward gentler compounds like linalool, while lowland thyme is dominated by thymol, which is the sharp, medicinal-smelling component and also the one responsible for thyme's reputation as a skin irritant. Ours is Spanish, which is typically a thymol-rich type. 

That's why this page treats dilution more seriously than most. Thyme belongs to the small group of oils, alongside clove, cinnamon and oregano, that need a lighter hand than lavender or citrus. Used properly it's excellent. Used carelessly it burns.

Natural health practices frequently use thyme essential oil due to its numerous benefits. Thyme oil contains powerful antiseptic properties, which make it fitting for the support of respiratory health and in fighting off infections. Applying oil thyme topically to the skin can reduce acne and help with visible scarring. If you seek more natural methods of cleaning, this particular essential oil is an effective disinfectant for both air and surfaces. Whether used for healing or for its fresh, clean fragrance, thyme oil is a necessity for anyone interested in natural wellness.

• Diffuser: 2 to 3 drops per 100 ml of water, fewer than you'd use of a gentler oil. Thyme is powerful and can overwhelm a room quickly. It blends well with lemon, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus. 
• Soap and candle making: thyme holds its scent through the process and pairs well with citrus and other herbs. 
• Cleaning water: 5 to 10 drops in a bucket of warm water gives a clean herbal scent to floors and benches. It's a scent, not a disinfectant, so use a registered disinfectant where killing germs matters. 
• Body oil: at most 1%, which is 3 to 6 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil. Start at the lower end, and never use it neat. 
• Not for facial use. Thyme is too strong for the thinner skin on the face. Use lavender, rose or frankincense there instead. 
• Blending: lemon, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood and pine all work with it. 

• Product name: Pure Thyme Essential Oil 
• Botanical name: Thymus vulgaris 
• Part used: leaves and flowering tops 
• Extraction method: steam distillation 
• Origin: Spain 
• Aroma: strong and herbaceous with a warm, slightly spicy edge 
• Common uses: diffuser blends, soap and candle making, scented cleaning water 
• Size: 10 ml 
• Shelf life: up to 3 years when stored cool and dark

Thyme is one of the more hazardous oils to use on skin. Please read this section before your first use. 

1. For external use only. Do not swallow. 
2. Never apply it neat. Dilute to a maximum of 1%, which is 3 to 6 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil, or roughly 1 drop per teaspoon. Even at that strength it can irritate sensitive skin. 
3. Patch test every time you make a new blend. Apply a small amount to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours. 
4. Don't use it on the face, on broken or irritated skin, or anywhere the skin is thin. 
5. Keep it away from the eyes and inner ears. If oil gets in an eye, wipe it with a carrier oil or full-cream milk rather than water, then seek medical advice. 
6. Diffuse in short sessions of 15 minutes in a room with airflow. Long exposure to a strong herb oil can cause headaches or throat irritation. 
7. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless your healthcare professional has said otherwise. 
8. If you have high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, or take blood-thinning medication, speak to your doctor before using thyme oil. 
9. Don't use it on children. For anyone under 12, choose a gentler oil such as lavender or sweet orange. 
10. Keep it out of reach of children. If any is swallowed, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away, or 000 in an emergency. 
11. Ask your vet before diffusing around pets, and leave them a way out of the room. 
12. Store tightly capped somewhere cool and dark, away from heat and open flames.