Lemon thyme: geraniol instead of thymol and a gentler oil for the skin

Q: Lemon thyme or ordinary thyme?

The difference is in the chemistry. Classic thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is most often sold in the thymol type. Thymol and carvacrol are phenols that smell sharp and medicinal and irritate the skin. Lemon thyme has only a few per cent of these substances, and its oil consists mainly of geraniol, a substance that smells of rose and geranium, and citral with the scent of lemon.

Lemon thyme smells lemony and floral and is milder on the skin than classic thyme. How to dilute it, what to blend it with and what to watch out for.

In brief: Lemon thyme oil (Thymus × citriodorus) is different from classic thyme: instead of sharp thymol it contains mainly geraniol and citral, so it smells lemony and floral. It is milder on the skin, but because of citral and geraniol keep it to 1%, that is, 6 drops per 30 ml.

Latin name	Thymus × citriodorus (lemon thyme)
Extraction	steam distillation of leaves and flowering shoots, at Pěstík from the USA
Main components	geraniol around 45%, citral (neral and geranial) around 15%, thymol and carvacrol only around 3%
Dilution on the skin	up to 1%: 2 drops per 10 ml, 6 drops per 30 ml
For a diffuser	2–4 drops
Safety in one word	mildly sensitising

You may know lemon thyme from the garden: a low little shrub whose leaves smell of lemon when you rub them between your fingers. Its essential oil is rarer and dearer than ordinary thyme and suits different things. It is gentler, sweeter and friendlier to the skin.

This article explains how lemon thyme differs from classic thyme, how to dilute it and what to blend it with. It is not medical advice.

Lemon thyme or ordinary thyme?

The difference is in the chemistry. Classic thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is most often sold in the thymol type. Thymol and carvacrol are phenols that smell sharp and medicinal and irritate the skin. Lemon thyme has only a few per cent of these substances, and its oil consists mainly of geraniol, a substance that smells of rose and geranium, and citral with the scent of lemon.

	Lemon thyme	Thyme of the thymol type
Main components	geraniol, citral	thymol, p-cymene, carvacrol
Scent	lemony, floral, delicately herbal	sharp, spicy, "cough syrup"
On the skin	up to 1%	very low, irritates
Where it fits	diffuser, fragrance and body blends	cleaning, diffuser for a short time

The composition of lemon thyme in the table is based on a study published in the journal Plants (2020), in which geraniol made up 47% of the oil, citral (neral and geranial) roughly 15%, and thymol with carvacrol together about 6%. Oil from another batch may differ; lemon thyme is a hybrid and its chemistry varies.

Pěstík also offers wild thyme, which is again a different species with a different scent. Always look for the Latin name on the label. The thyme plants and their cultivation are described in the article common thyme, and Mediterranean herbs in the garden in the article rosemary, thyme and oregano in the Czech garden.

How to dilute it

Both geraniol and citral are among the fragrance substances that may cause contact allergy. IFRA restricts citral in cosmetics, in body lotion to 0.15%. With 15% citral in the oil, a body oil with 1% lemon thyme would contain about 0.15% citral, that is, right at the limit. That is why we recommend 1% as the ceiling and half of that for sensitive skin.

Carrier oil	0.5% (sensitive skin)	1% (ceiling)
10 ml	1 drop	2 drops
30 ml	3 drops	6 drops
50 ml	5 drops	10 drops

We count 1 ml ≈ 20 drops. We write about dilution and carrier oils in general in the article essential oils for the complexion. Do not put lemon thyme on the face.

Where to use it

Diffuser: for a small room 2 drops, for a living room 3–4 drops.
Oil burner: 3–4 drops in a dish of water.
Bath: at most 3 drops mixed into a spoonful of carrier oil or cream, never straight into the water.
Body oil and perfume blends: up to 1%, see the table.

If you are not sure about the number of drops by room size, the article how many drops for a diffuser and oil burner will help.

Blends with lemon thyme

Light floral (diffuser)

2 drops of lemon thyme, 2 drops of lavender, 1 drop of bergamot. We recommend this combination on the product page of the oil too; in the air, bergamot's phototoxicity is no issue.

Garden after rain (diffuser)

2 drops of lemon thyme, 1 drop of rosemary, 2 drops of orange. Herbal and sweet at the same time. Because of the rosemary, not for children under 6.

Rose-lemon (oil burner)

2 drops of lemon thyme, 2 drops of palmarosa. Palmarosa is also rich in geraniol, and together they smell like a lemon rose.

Body oil after a shower (1%)

Pour 30 ml of jojoba oil.
Add 2 drops of lemon thyme, 3 drops of lavender and 1 drop of palmarosa, 6 drops in total.
Mix and label with the date.
Test on the forearm and wait 24 hours.
Apply to damp skin on the body, not the face. Use within 3 months.

More tips on combinations can be found in the article how to combine essential oils.

Traditional use and research

Lemon thyme is traditionally used mainly in the kitchen, with fish and poultry and in tea. In folk use its hydrosol (floral water from distillation) is added to the care of oily skin. In laboratory studies both the oil and the hydrosol are investigated for their action on bacteria associated with acne. These are test-tube experiments, not verified treatment. The essential oil is not taken internally, and do not confuse it with kitchen herbs.

Safety

Tolerance test: because of geraniol and citral, always first on the forearm, 24 hours.
Children: in a diffuser from 2 years at most 1 drop, on the skin only from 6 years and up to 0.5%. The rules are in the article essential oils and children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the oil contains citral, for which Tisserand and Young point to a risk to the fetus. During pregnancy use it only in a diffuser.
Cats: use a diffuser only where the cat can leave, never on the fur. More in the article essential oils and pets.
Storage: in the cool and dark; close the bottle straight away. Use up an opened bottle within 1–2 years; oxidised oil irritates more.

How to recognise a good lemon thyme

On the label look for Thymus × citriodorus (sometimes Thymus citriodorus), the country of origin and steam distillation of the herb. The oil should smell lemony and floral. If it smells sharp and medicinal, it is most likely a thymol thyme with a lemon aroma. A good supplier provides a composition analysis on request, that is, the proportion of geraniol and citral.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between lemon thyme and ordinary thyme?

Lemon thyme contains mainly geraniol and citral and smells lemony and floral. Ordinary thyme of the thymol type smells sharp and spicy and irritates the skin more. Each suits something different.

How many drops of lemon thyme per 30 ml of oil?

At most 6 drops, that is, 1%. For sensitive skin 3 drops. Do not put it on the face.

Is lemon thyme suitable for children?

In a diffuser from 2 years at most 1 drop. On the skin only from 6 years and diluted to 0.5%, because it contains citral and geraniol, which may cause allergy.

What does lemon thyme go with in a blend?

With lavender and bergamot in a light floral blend, with palmarosa in a rose-lemon one, with rosemary and orange in a herbal one.

Can I use lemon thyme in the kitchen?

Fresh or dried leaves yes, the essential oil no. The oil from a bottle is a concentrate intended for scenting and cosmetics and is not taken internally.

Sources

Updated: 27 September 2026

Author: Jana Vránová, the editorial pen name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage information from specialist literature and official sources, which we cite in every article.