Chemotype

Depending on the biotope (sunshine, climatic conditions, soil composition, altitude, neighbouring plant population…) a given aromatic plant can produce essential oils bio-chemically very different.

Those variations in the biochemical composition of essential oils bring about the notion of “Chemotype”. Two chemotypes of the same essential oil will have not only different activities but also very different toxicities.

For example

Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol :
- well tolerated on the skin

Thymus vulgaris CT thymol
- dermocaustic