For hair
In a shampoo, a conditioner or a mask, thyme brings a fresh, herbal scent; the formula cleanses the scalp and leaves a feeling of freshness.
Aromatic plant and essential oilMoroccan heritage
Thyme
The thyme an aromatic plant of dry hillsides, distilled for its oil.
Leaves and flowers the flowering tops, the part used.
Dried, ground the leaf scents shampoos, masks and cleansers.
The essential oil rich in thymol, always diluted before use.
INCI · THYMUS VULGARIS LEAFCreate my thyme range
- INCI name
- THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF
- Other names
- Common thyme, thym commun; zaîtra for Moroccan thymes
- Family
- Aromatic plant (Lamiaceae): leaf, extract or essential oil
- Origin
- Southern Europe and the Mediterranean; Morocco has 21 species of thyme
- Part used
- Leaves and flowering tops, dried or distilled
- Areas
- Hair, scalp, cleansers, fragrance
In brief
Thyme in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 18, 2026
- INCI nameTHYMUS VULGARIS LEAF (thyme leaf)
- What it isan aromatic plant used as leaf, extract or essential oil
- For haira fresh, herbal scent in shampoos and masks
- Regulationthe essential oil contains allergens that must be labeled
- OriginSouthern Europe and the Mediterranean; many thymes endemic to Morocco
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is thyme in cosmetics?
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is an aromatic plant of the Lamiaceae family, native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. In cosmetics, it is used in three forms: the dried leaf, declared as THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF and classed as a fragrance ingredient by CosIng, the extract, and the essential oil obtained by distillation. This oil is rich in thymol, along with γ-terpinene and p-cymene. Thyme scents shampoos, masks and cleansers.
Thyme leaf, extract or essential oil: the difference
Leaf
The dried, ground plant, declared as THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF, which CosIng classes as a fragrance ingredient. It goes into masks and powders.
Extract
An extract of the flowers and leaves, declared for example as THYMUS VULGARIS FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, which CosIng classes as a skin conditioning agent, tonic and fragrance ingredient.
Essential oil
The distilled volatile oil, highly concentrated and rich in thymol, declared as THYMUS VULGARIS OIL or LEAF OIL depending on the part distilled. It is dosed like a fragrance and requires allergen labeling.
( B )ITS BENEFITS01 02 03
Benefits of thyme for hair and skin
For skin
In a cleansing foam or a clay mask, it scents care that cleanses the skin. CosIng assigns the flower and leaf extract the function of skin conditioning agent and tonic.
For the formula
Its essential oil, rich in thymol, scents at a very low dose. Studies describe many chemotypes (thymol, linalool, geraniol...), which change its odor and its allergens: we choose the batch on analysis.
How to use thyme and its essential oil
- Hair
Thyme shampoo or conditioner massaged into wet hair, then rinsed; a mask is left on for a few minutes over the lengths.
- Face
Cleansing foam applied to damp skin, emulsified in small circles then rinsed, avoiding the eyes.
- Essential oil
Never neat on the skin: always diluted in a vegetable oil or a base, at a low dose, and tested on a small area before use. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes.
( C )IN OUR PRODUCTS
Launch your thyme range
We build it into shampoos and conditioners, masks, cleansing foams, and pure essential oil, ready to carry your brand. Choose a category to see our formulas.
Catalog products with thyme
( D )FORMULATOR NOTES
How we build it in
What our formulators take into account when thyme goes into your product.
Often paired with
- 01Allergens to label
Depending on its chemotype, thyme essential oil contains linalool, limonene or geraniol, allergens of Annex III of Regulation 1223/2009: above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product, they are named in the INCI list.
- 02An expanded list
Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 adds new allergens to be labeled, including terpineol and camphor. Non-compliant products can no longer be placed on the market after July 31, 2026.
- 03A cautious dosage
Rich in phenols such as thymol, the essential oil is dosed low, and the formula goes through tolerance tests before it is placed on the market.
- 04No medical claims
Thyme has many traditional medicinal uses, in Morocco as elsewhere. We present them as tradition and write your claims within the cosmetic framework: scent, cleanse, refresh.
Did you know?
Morocco, land of thymes
- 21 species
The genus Thymus has 21 species in Morocco, 10 of them endemic, an endemism rate close to 48%.
- Zaîtra
Local people call Moroccan thymes "zaîtra" or "azoukeni"; they are harvested and sold fresh or dried in city markets.
- Chemotypes
A single species, Thymus vulgaris, can give very different oils: a study of 85 oils identified at least 20 chemotypes.
Thyme and thyme essential oil: your questions
A project with this ingredient?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Write on WhatsApp
What is thyme used for in cosmetics?
Thyme scents care products with a fresh, herbal note. The extract is classed by CosIng as a skin conditioning agent and tonic, the leaf and the essential oil as fragrance ingredients. It is found in shampoos, masks and cleansers, within the cosmetic framework and with no medical promise.
Is thyme good for hair?
In Morocco, a survey of herbalists in Fès-Meknès cites a local thyme, Thymus zygis, called zeitra, in traditional hair preparations. In our shampoos and masks, thyme scents and accompanies scalp cleansing, with no promise on hair loss or hair growth.
How do you use thyme essential oil on skin?
Never neat: always dilute it in a vegetable oil or build it into a formulated product, at a low dose. Do a test in the crook of the elbow before first use and keep it away from eyes and mucous membranes. For sensitive groups, ask a professional for advice.
What is the composition of thyme essential oil?
For a commercial Thymus vulgaris oil, the values cited are: thymol 23 to 60%, γ-terpinene 18 to 50%, p-cymene 8 to 44%, carvacrol 2 to 8% and linalool 3 to 4%. The composition changes strongly with the chemotype and the origin.
Does thyme essential oil contain allergens?
Yes. Depending on the chemotype, thyme essential oil contains linalool, limonene or geraniol, allergens regulated in the European Union. Above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product, they must appear in the ingredient list.
Can you create a thyme range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. Carmel Cosmetics Labs offers a pure thyme essential oil under your brand, and builds thyme into shampoos, masks and cleansing foams in white label, or into an exclusive private label formula, made in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul.
Sources
- European Commission, CosIng database: THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF (thyme leaf)
- Satyal P. et al., Essential Oil Characterization of Thymus vulgaris from Various Geographical Locations, Foods 5(4) (2016)
- Drioiche A. et al., Correlation between the chemical composition and the antimicrobial properties of seven samples of essential oils of endemic Thymes in Morocco, Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal 30(8) (2022)
- Salhi N. et al., Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in the Fez-Meknes Region, Trop J Nat Prod Res 7(11) (2023)
- European Commission, Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (labeling of fragrance allergens) (2023)
Your thyme range, made in Morocco
Send your brief: we formulate and manufacture your thyme care products and essential oils in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and a selection of formulas, no commitment.