Description
Red thyme essential oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops and leaves of Thymus vulgaris, a small aromatic shrub native to the Mediterranean. Thyme has been used in herbal medicine, cooking, and ritual practices for thousands of years, and its essential oil is one of the oldest known.
Red thyme is the crude, unrefined distillate of thyme, containing high levels of thymol and carvacrol. These phenolic compounds give red thyme its powerful, warm, spicy, and herbaceous aroma, and are also responsible for its strong antimicrobial properties. The “red” name comes from the reddish colour of the unrefined oil. By contrast, white thyme is a redistilled, milder version.
In aromatherapy, red thyme essential oil is used in small amounts in diffuser blends and massage preparations. Its warming character makes it popular in blends for respiratory support and winter wellness. It is a strong oil that should be used in low dilutions, typically no more than 1% in a carrier oil for skin application, due to its high phenol content which can cause skin irritation.
Red thyme blends well with lavender, rosemary, pine, cedarwood, lemon, and bergamot. This 10ml bottle is suitable for use in diffusers and diluted blends. Due to its strength, exercise care with dilution and avoid use in the bath. Not suitable for use on children or sensitive skin. Not for internal use.
