Constituent · Monoterpene hydrocarbon
o-cymene
o-cymene is a light, volatile monoterpene hydrocarbon — the kind of fresh, often citrusy or piney top-note compound that evaporates fastest from an oil. Across our dataset it was measured in 38 oils (149 samples), concentrating most in Thyme, Marjoram, Wormwood.
Essential oils richest in o-cymene
Measured relative composition (GC peak-area %) pooled across published GC-MS samples — median, typical range (middle 50%) and the maximum seen.
| Oil | Median | Typical range | Max | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thyme | 16.55% | 0.18%–18.31% | 32.95% | 5 |
| Marjoram | 15.05% | 15.05%–15.05% | 15.05% | 1 |
| Wormwood | 12.8% | 12.8%–12.8% | 12.8% | 1 |
| Cumin | 12.37% | 9.89%–14.84% | 17.31% | 2 |
| Cypress | 6.2% | 6.2%–6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| Rosemary | 5.59% | 4.46%–6.32% | 7.09% | 13 |
| Sacred frankincense | 3.57% | 3.57%–3.57% | 3.57% | 1 |
| Oregano | 3.45% | 1.9%–5% | 6.55% | 2 |
| Carrot seed | 3.27% | 3.27%–3.27% | 3.27% | 1 |
| Dill | 2.74% | 1.59%–3.9% | 5.05% | 2 |
| Orange | 2.52% | 2.52%–2.52% | 2.52% | 1 |
| Nutmeg | 2.06% | 1.88%–2.07% | 2.08% | 3 |
| Coriander | 1.7% | 1.35%–2.16% | 3% | 11 |
| Lavandin | 1.7% | 0.95%–1.8% | 1.9% | 3 |
| Lavender | 1.69% | 0.49%–2.87% | 3.15% | 24 |
| Lime | 1.3% | 0.97%–1.95% | 3.1% | 11 |
| Mountain savory | 1.26% | 1.26%–1.26% | 1.26% | 1 |
| Tangerine | 1.06% | 1.05%–1.07% | 1.08% | 2 |
| Myrtle | 1.05% | 0.67%–3.29% | 8.05% | 14 |
| Fennel | 0.7% | 0.42%–1.06% | 1.41% | 3 |
Oils in our library are linked above — open any profile for its full composition, safety panel and the research behind it.
Related constituents
Other monoterpene hydrocarbon compounds across the oils.
Figures are GC peak-area percentages pooled across published GC-MS samples, not concentrations, and describe chemistry — not health effects. How this is built →