Wintersunchem thymol... is it synthetic?

[BeeCurious]

Is the thymol sold by Wintersun Chemical synthetic?

And is it possible to tell the difference between natural and synthetic?

And how about U.S.P. Thymol, can't that also be synthetic?

[Mike Gillmore]

Good question. I sent Wintersun an email and below is their response.


Mike

They are natural Thyme plant extract.

Thanks

Best Regards

Michael Shen
Director
************************************************** *********

WINTERSUN CHEMICAL
1150 S. Mildred Ave., Ontario, CA 91761. USA
Tel: 909-930-1688 ext.228 Direct:909-458-6358
Sales:800-930-1688 Fax:909-947-1788
Email: mshen@wintersunchem.com
Website: www.wintersunchem.com
************************************************** *********
We moved to new facility since last November 8. Please update your record.


From: Mike Gillmore [mailto:hma@sssnet.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 3:52 PM
To: purchasing@wintersunchem.com
Subject: Thymol Crystals



Hello,

I’m interested in purchasing Thymol for Varroa Mite treatment in my beekeeping operation. I have a question about your Thymol crystals. Are they “synthetic” or a natural “thyme plant extract”?

Thank you,

Mike Gillmore

[BeeCurious]

Good question. I sent Wintersun an email and below is their response.


Mike

They are natural Thyme plant extract.

Thanks

Best Regards

Michael Shen
Director
************************************************** *********
snip

Last week I asked Michael Shen if the Wintersun product looked like "tiny beads" and he said it does. Lebermuth's thymol looks like very small beads if it means anything... With a price that is very close to Lebermuth's I would wonder if the Wintersun product was 100% natural.

A sales person at Lebermuth confirmed that their product did not contain any natural thymol... it is 100% synthetic (flavor grade). I was also told that "natural thymol" is 3 or 4 times the price of synthetic. If that's true I would ask Wintersun to provide evidence showing that their product was 100% natural.

I believe that the natural product would be much more expensive, but is it possible that Wintersun's product sells for about the same price as Lebermuth's?

I have only used thymol in late summer/fall syrup to prevent fermentation. My bees are about 40 minutes away so I top-off the feeders when I make a trip over to inspect them.

For the minimal amount that I would ever use, I think I would just buy the U.S.P. thymol sold by "Medichest". http://www.medichest.com/thymolcrystalsnf100gram.html