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Thyme Essential Oil
The Oil of Fortitude
Thyme essential oil is a warm, green and faintly sweet herbal oil steam-distilled from the flowering herb, best used in small amounts in diffuser blends, with the gentler linalool type chosen for this oil.
Botanical name: Thymus vulgaris ct. linalool
Aroma: Warm, herbal, green and faintly sweet
Note: Middle
Main growing region: Mediterranean (as described on our product page)
Typically extracted: Steam-distilled from the flowering herb
Blends well with: Rosemary, Lavender, Bergamot, Eucalyptus and Lemon
Top 3 benefits:
- Warm herbal character: a green, rugged aroma that brings real depth to herbal and aromatic blends.
- Fresh, clear air: a crisp herbal note that freshens a stale or shared room when diffused lightly.
- Gentler type: the linalool type has a softer, sweeter character than the fierce thymol type of thyme.
Safety first: thyme is a potent oil, so keep skin use to 1% or less, patch test first, avoid it during pregnancy and with high blood pressure, and keep it away from young children and pets. Read the full safety information.
What Is Thyme Essential Oil?
Thyme essential oil is steam-distilled from the flowering herb Thymus vulgaris, a low, woody Mediterranean plant that thrives on dry, sunny hillsides. Thyme comes in several chemotypes, which are chemically distinct forms of the same plant. The oil on this page is the linalool type, which is generally regarded as gentler than the thymol or carvacrol types.
Its aroma comes mainly from linalool, with smaller amounts of terpinene, thymol and carvacrol. Linalool gives the soft, green, faintly sweet note, while the phenols add the characteristic herbal warmth. It is still a powerful middle note, so a single drop is usually enough in a blend.
Benefits and Traditional Uses
The science: thyme has a rugged, herbaceous aroma that gives depth to fougère and aromatic accords in natural perfumery. The linalool type is softer and sweeter than other thymes, which makes it easier to blend, though it should still be used sparingly.
How to use (the herb garden blend): diffuse 1 drop of thyme with 3 drops of Rosemary and 3 drops of Lemon in a well-ventilated room.
The science: thyme has been burned and strewn as a fragrant herb since antiquity, and its crisp, clean aroma still suits kitchens, hallways and shared rooms. Laboratory studies have shown activity for thyme oils against some microbes, but that does not mean a diffuser will treat anything in your home, so enjoy it for its fresh scent.
How to use (the fresh room spray): mix 6 drops with 100ml of distilled water and a tablespoon of witch hazel in a glass spray bottle (about 0.3%). Shake well, spritz into the air or onto hard surfaces, and keep away from skin, pets and faces.
The science: thyme is traditionally included in warming herbal blends after cold or damp weather. Its use on the skin should be modest, because thyme oils can irritate, and the sensation of warmth is not a treatment for any muscle or joint condition.
How to use (the gentle warming rub): mix 1 drop of thyme into 10ml of carrier oil such as sweet almond (about 0.5%), patch test first, and massage into the shoulders or upper back. Avoid the face and sensitive skin.
How to Use Thyme Essential Oil
| Method | Instructions | VivaForte tip |
|---|---|---|
| Diffusion | 1 to 3 drops in an ultrasonic diffuser, in short sessions of 30 minutes. | Thyme is powerful, so use noticeably less than you would of a citrus or lavender. |
| Inhalation | 1 drop on a tissue or cotton ball, inhaled briefly from a short distance. | Keep it off your skin and away from children. |
| Topical | Maximum 1% dilution (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil, or 2 drops per 10ml). Never apply neat. | Patch test first. Avoid the face, sensitive skin and broken skin. |
| Home and surfaces | 6 drops in 100ml of distilled water with a tablespoon of witch hazel (about 0.3%). | Shake before each use. Use as a room and surface spray, not on skin. |
| Blending | 1 drop added to a diffuser blend as a herbal middle note. | Pair with rosemary, lavender, bergamot or eucalyptus. |
Thyme Safety Information
- Dilute and patch test. Use no more than 1% on the skin (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil), and never apply it neat. Thyme oils can irritate the skin and may cause an allergic reaction, so patch test first and stop if irritation occurs. Avoid the face, sensitive skin and broken skin. Diffusion is the gentler choice.
- External and aromatic use only. Do not swallow essential oils. The thyme you cook with is a different product.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and health conditions. Avoid thyme oil during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. It is not suitable for people with high blood pressure, and you should speak to a healthcare professional before use if you have any other medical condition or take regular medication.
- Children. Do not use thyme on or near the face of babies and young children, and keep it out of their reach. Avoid diffusing it in small, closed rooms where children sleep.
- Pets. Thyme oil can be harmful to pets, particularly cats. Keep animals out of the room when diffusing, ventilate afterwards, and never apply the oil to them.
- Chemical profile. Linalool type, high in linalool, with thymol, carvacrol and terpinene.
For general guidance on dilution, patch testing and sun safety, read our Essential Oil Safety guide.
History and Heritage
Thyme is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used as a fragrant and culinary herb since antiquity. The Greeks are often said to have associated it with courage, and it was burned as a purifying incense, though the details of these traditions are hard to verify.
In medieval Europe, thyme is thought to have been given as a token of bravery, with a popular story saying that ladies embroidered sprigs of it on scarves for knights. Whether or not that is literally true, thyme has long been a symbol of strength and perseverance.
Today thyme grows in gardens and on hillsides across the world. The essential oil is distilled from the flowering herb, and the linalool type is especially valued for being milder than the fiercely phenolic thymol type.
Thyme Essential Oil FAQs
Is thyme essential oil safe to use on the skin?
Only with care. Keep it to 1% or less (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil), never apply it neat, patch test first, and avoid the face and sensitive skin. Diffusion is the gentler option.
Is thyme oil safe in pregnancy?
It is best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it is not suitable for people with high blood pressure. Speak to a healthcare professional before use if you have any health condition.
Is thyme essential oil safe around pets and children?
Take care. Thyme oil can be harmful to cats and other pets, so keep animals out of the room when diffusing. Do not use it on or near the face of young children, and keep bottles out of reach.
What does thyme oil smell like and what blends with it?
It smells warm, green, herbal and faintly sweet. It blends well with Rosemary, Lavender, Bergamot and Eucalyptus.
What is the difference between thyme chemotypes?
Thyme comes in chemically different forms called chemotypes. The linalool type is sweeter and generally gentler on the skin, while thymol and carvacrol types are far stronger and more irritating. Always check the type on the label.
Continue Exploring
- Rosemary: another herbal oil with a clean, camphorous character.
- Marjoram: a softer, warmer herb oil from the same plant family.
- Ravintsara: a fresh, camphorous oil that pairs well with thyme in seasonal blends.
- Essential Oil Safety: dilution, patch testing and sun safety explained.
- All Single Essential Oils: browse the full VivaForte botanical range.