Thyme oil |

Last updated: 25/08/2025
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(Also known as: red thyme oil; white thyme oil; Thymus vulgaris extract; thyme extract) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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An essential oil extracted from the Thyme plant that has anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and insecticidal properties |
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Ants; Aphids; Armyworms; Wireworms; Leafhoppers; Mealybugs; Mosquitos; Spiders; Ticks; Scorpions; Botrytis |
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Crops; Domestic situations; Public health situations |
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Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Lamiales; Family: Lamiaceae |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Yes |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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Thyme oil is a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds, primarily monoterpenes and phenols and some of its key constituents are isomeric. For example, a monoterpenoid phenol commonly found in thyme oil that has the formula C₁₀H₁₄O exhibits positional isomerism and exists as thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) and carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol). |
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No |
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Insecticide; Fungicide |
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Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
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Natural; Complex mixture |
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Non-toxic mode of action. Suffocates insects and contact damage due to corrosive properties |
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Oil is extracted from the Mediterraean herb Thymus vulgaris and other Thymus species |
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Crop protection; Public health protection |
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Ants; Aphids; Armyworms; Wireworms; Leafhoppers; Mealybugs; Mosquitos; Spiders; Ticks; Scorpions; Botrytis |
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8007-46-3 |
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597800 |
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thyme oil |
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FEMA=3064 & 3065; FLAVIS=16.045; USEPA minimum risk pesticide |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Colourless to red-brown oily liquid with characteristic smell. Oil consists of thymol, linalool, cymene, 1,8-cineole and various other aromatic substances |
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Current |
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Used informally for centuries; 1990s, informal use in agriculture recorded |
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- Kemin Industries
- Rovensa Next North America
- Ultra International B.V.
- Vdh Organics Pvt. Ltd.
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Often formulated as formulated as emulsifiable concentrates or ready-to-use products |
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Commercial production of thyme oil begins with the cultivation of Thymus vulgaris. The plants are harvested during peak flowering, when essential oil content is highest. The fresh or dried aerial parts, mainly leaves and flowering tops, are then subjected to steam distillation, which extracts volatile compounds like thymol, carvacrol, and linalool that give thyme oil its strong, herbaceous aroma and medicinal properties. After distillation, the oil is filtered, tested for purity, and packaged for use. |
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Data for specific plant oils is scarce. However, from publicly available data the carbon footprint of plant oils has been estimated at between 1.0 and 4.0 kg CO₂e per kg of oil. This depends on the plant oil content, agricultural practices and processing methods used. |
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190 |
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60 |
(closed cup) |
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5.01 X 1001 |
Calculated |
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1.7 |
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Low |
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0.916 |
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30 |
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Moderately persistent |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
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Soil adsorption and mobility |
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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F4 Mouse 1250 |
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Moderate |
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> 10000 |
Unknown species |
Low |
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3.0 |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Moderate |
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4.9 |
Daphnia magna |
Moderate |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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F4 Mouse 1250 |
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Moderate |
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5000 |
Rabbit |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E2 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 2 = Mixed/ambiguous results |
No data found |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
No data found |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
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Corrosive to skin |
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Not explosive or oxidising Corrosive Flammable IMDG Transport Hazard Class 3 |
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Handling: H226 Health: H304, H314, H317, H318, H361f Environment: H411 |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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UN2924 |
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Packaging group III (minor danger) |
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Stable under ambient storage conditions |
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thyme oil |
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Record last updated: |
25/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |