Abstract The essential oils of the Albanian thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) were obtained by steam distillation of air-dried plant material and examined by GC and GC/MS. Over 86 compounds were detected in the oils, from which more than 40 could be identified. The main components identified were: p-cymene: (7.76â43.75%), Î³-terpinene (4.20â27.62%), thymol (21.38â60.15%), carvacrol (1.15â3.04%) and Î²-caryophyllene (1.30â3.07%).