Wild Thyme Oil

#### Thyme, "Wild". Of very little interest to the perfumer, and of decreasing interest to the flavorist is the oil, steam distilled from the flowering herb of **Thymus**** ****Serpyllum**. The plant grows wild in various botanical forms in the U.S.S.R., Central Europe, Asia and Africa. It is also known in many states of the northern U.S.A. The plant is collected in France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy and Poland. In France, it is known as "**Serpolet**", in Germany as "**Quendel**". "**Wild**** ****Thyme**" oil is a pale yellow, mobile liquid with an odor that is fresh, but somewhat sharp-terpeney, and a burning sharp, woodyherbaceous taste with a spicy-phenolic undertone. There are many different types of this oil, but the author has yet to meet one which is outstandingly pleasant or very interesting beyond the scope of thyme oil, origanum oil or marjoram oils. **Wild Thyme Oil **is used in its various countries of origin as a food condiment and, to a very limited extent, in perfumery where its fresh, sometimes almost lemony notes can be helpful in citrus-colognes, fougères, etc. Oil of **Thymus**** ****Serpyllum**** **is rarely offered as a genuine oil, and it may slowly disappear from the perfumery and flavor market. Oils offered under the above name may be "constructed" from thyme oil fractions, linalool, origanum oil fractions, etc.