What is the Difference Between Thyme Linalool and Thyme Thymol

The key difference between thyme linalool and thyme thymol is that thyme linalool has a softer and woodier aroma than thyme thymol.

Thyme linalool and thyme thymol are extracts obtained from thyme plants. These extracts are aromatic oils that can be used in aromatherapy.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Thyme Linalool
3. What is Thyme Thymol
4. Thyme Linalool vs Thyme Thymol in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Thyme Linalool vs Thyme Thymol

What is Thyme Linalool?

Thyme linalool is a type of essential oil used in aromatherapy. This material is obtained from the flower tops of Thymus vulgaris in France or Thymus zygis. Linalool is a monoterpenoid that occurs as an octa-1,6-diene substituted by methyl groups at 3 and 7 positions and a hydroxyl group at position 3. It is also a tertiary alcohol.

Thyme is a subshrub having a height of about 40 cm. It has evergreen leaves and small blossoms of different colors. Usually, this plant is cultivated in sunny regions of Southern Europe and North Africa, around the Mediterranean Basin. This plant is well-known for its use as an aromatic ingredient in cuisine.

The two plant types that we can use to make this essential oil are Thymus vulgaris and Thymus zygis. Both these plants have two different chemotypes: thymol type and linalool type.

The chemical formula of Linalool is C₁₀H₁₈O. The molar mass of this compound is 154.25 g/mol. The hydrogen bond acceptor count of this compound is 1, and the hydrogen bond donor count is 1. It also has 4 rotatable bonds. Thyme linalool occurs in the liquid state under normal conditions, and it is a colorless liquid with bergamot oil or French lavender odor. The taste of this oil can be described as floral, woody, and sweet. The melting point is >25 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point is in the range of 198 – 200 degrees Celsius. It has poor solubility in water, but it is soluble in alcohol, ether, fixed oils, and propylene glycol, but insoluble in glycerin.

What is Thyme Thymol?

Thyme thymol is an aromatic oil having pharmacological uses and other applications due to its aroma. It is also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol. It occurs as a white crystalline substance that gives this substance a strong flavor, pleasant aromatic odor, and strong antiseptic property. The density of this compound is 0.96 g/cm³ at 25 degrees Celsius. It is a natural monoterpene phenol that is primarily found in thyme, oregano, and tangerine peel.

The chemical formula of thyme thymol is C₁₀H₁₄O. The molar mass of this compound is 150.22 g/mol. It has the odor of thyme and can be described as a spicy-herbal, slightly medicinal odor that is reminiscent of thyme. It has a pungent, caustic taste. The melting point is 51.5 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point is about 233 degrees Celsius. It is poorly soluble in water, alcohol, chloroform, ether, and olive oil but soluble in glacial acetic acid, oil, and fixed alkali hydroxide.

What is the Difference Between Thyme Linalool and Thyme Thymol?

Thyme linalool and thyme thymol are extracts that can be obtained from Thyme Vulgaris and Thyme Zygis. The key difference between thyme linalool and thyme thymol is that thyme linalool has a softer and woodier aroma than thyme thymol. Moreover, thyme linalool has poor solubility in water but is soluble in alcohol, ether, fixed oils, and propylene glycol, but insoluble in glycerin. Thyme thymol, on the other hand, is poorly soluble in water, alcohol, chloroform, ether, and olive oil, but soluble in glacial acetic acid, oil, and fixed alkali hydroxide.

The below infographic presents the differences between thyme linalool and thyme thymol in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Thyme Linalool vs Thyme Thymol

Thyme linalool and thyme thymol are extracts obtained from thyme plants. The key difference between thyme linalool and thyme thymol is that thyme linalool has a softer and woodier aroma than thyme thymol.

Reference:

1. “Linalool.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Mont Ventoux – sous bois – thym sauvage” By Marianne Casamance – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Thyme-thymol” By Calvero. – Derivative work from Image:Thymus vulgaris.jpg. (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia