| Summary: | <i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak. (Korean name: bak-ri-hyang) is an important medicinal and aromatic herb in Korea, which is named for the spread of its fragrance over a distance of approximately 40 km. In traditional Korean systems of medicine, <i>T. quinquecostatus</i> has been used to treat cancer, constipation, hepatic disease, arteriosclerosis, poor circulation in women, constipation, and menstrual irregularities. At present, <i>T. quinquecostatus</i> is used only for ornamental and ground cover purposes. A literature search was conducted to retrieve information regarding the essential oil composition and biological properties of <i>T. quinquecostatus</i> from PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Wiley, and other literature databases. <i>T. quinquecostatus</i> can be divided into different chemotypes, such as γ-terpinene, thymol, phenol, carvacrol, and geraniol, according to the presence of major components in its essential oil. Further, the essential oil from <i>T. quinquecostatus</i> has been reported to possess various therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sleep prolonging, soothing, skin protection and whitening, anti-aging, anti-obesity, and anti-acne properties. In conclusion, this review will be helpful for utilizing the <i>T. quinquecostatus</i> plant in different industries including food, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, perfumery, and cosmetics.
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