Home › Glossary › Thymol

Thymol

Q: Is Thymol natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Isolated from thyme oil by fractional distillation and crystallization. Thyme oil of the thymol chemotype contains 30-50% thymol. Also produced synthetically from meta-cresol and propylene. Natural isolation is commercially viable due to thymol's high concentration in thyme oil..

SPICES / herbal · spicy · medicinal

Thymol

Category	SPICES
Subcategory	herbal · spicy · medicinal
Origin
Volatility	Top Note
Botanical	Found in Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Origanum vulgare (oregano); also synthesized
Appearance	white crystalline solid
Odor Strength	High
Producing Countries	France, India, Morocco, Spain
Pyramid	Top

Sharp, hot, phenolic-herbal with an aggressive medicinal bite. Thymol smells like concentrated thyme extract — pungent, warm, and deeply antiseptic.

Scent
Terroir & Origins
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Sharp, hot, phenolic-herbal. Aggressively medicinal at concentration. Distinctly thyme-like — the pure essence of the herb's character. Warmer than camphor, less sweet than eugenol, more phenolic than carvacrol. At extreme dilution, a subtle warm-herbal sweetness emerges.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sharp phenolic-herbal burst. Hot and medicinal.

After a few hours

Warm herbal heart. Phenolic edge persists. Slight sweetness.

After a few days

Persistent phenolic-warm base. Moderate tenacity.

Terroir & Chemotypes

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

CAS 89-83-8. 2-Isopropyl-5-methylphenol. The defining molecule of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and the compound responsible for thyme's characteristic hot, medicinal, herbal character. Thymol is a monoterpenoid phenol — structurally an isomer of carvacrol (from oregano).

The scent is sharp, phenolic, and aggressively herbal. It has a hot, almost caustic quality at concentration — biting and medicinal. At very low dilution, it becomes warmer and more approachable, revealing a subtle sweetness beneath the phenolic surface. Thymol's antimicrobial properties are well-documented and it is used in mouthwashes, antiseptics, and veterinary medicine.

This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Gravitas Capitale. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

—

Related: 4 Methylanisole · Almaciga · Arnica · Assam Tea · Calycanthus · Camphor · Canvas · Carvone

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Thymol is the active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash — the product has contained thymol since its invention in 1879. The original Listerine formula (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate) remains essentially unchanged after 145+ years, making it one of the longest-running chemical formulas in consumer products.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Isolated from thyme oil by fractional distillation and crystallization. Thyme oil of the thymol chemotype contains 30-50% thymol. Also produced synthetically from meta-cresol and propylene. Natural isolation is commercially viable due to thymol's high concentration in thyme oil.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	C10H14O
CAS Number	89-83-8
Botanical Name	Found in Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Origanum vulgare (oregano); also synthesized
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	2-ISOPROPYL-5-METHYLPHENOL · THYME OIL COMPONENT
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	High
Lasting Power	176 hour(s) at 20.00 % in dipropylene glycol
Appearance	white crystalline solid
Boiling Point	231.00 to 232.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	216.00 °F. TCC ( 102.22 °C. )
Melting Point	49.00 to 51.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

In Perfumery

Trace modifier in herbal and aromatic compositions. Thymol is used at very low concentrations (below 0.1%) to add authentic thyme character. Its phenolic aggression limits dosage in fine fragrance. More common in functional fragrance (dental products, household cleaners) where its antimicrobial properties are valued alongside its scent. In perfumery, it provides the 'hot herb' accent that dried thyme adds to cooking — a small amount transforms the composition.