6815. Oil of Thyme

Description and references

Volatile oil distilled from flowering plant Thymus vulgaris L., Labiatae. Constit. 20-40% by vol of thymol and carvacrol; cymene, pinene, linalool, bornyl acetate.

Properties

Colorless to reddish-brown liq; pleasant thymol odor; sharp taste. d2525 0.894-0.930. αD25 <-4°. nD20 1.4830-1.5100. Very slightly sol in water; sol in 2 vols 80% alcohol. Keep well closed, cool and protected from light.

Note

Often misnamed “oil of origanum.”

Therapeutic Category

Rubefacient, counterirritant, antiseptic, carminative.