Small shrub (20–60 cm) with a woody base and intricately branched, spreading, lignified stems. The entire plant is densely covered with white, retrorse, eglandular hairs, as well as transparent sessile glands, and emits a strong aromatic scent reminiscent of za’atar (thymol-carvacrol). Leaves are crowded, sessile, thick, and narrowly oblong with revolute margins. Leaf size varies with the season but always remains shorter than the internodes: winter leaves measure 5–7 × 0.8–1.5 mm with internodes of 7–12 mm, while summer leaves are smaller (2–3 × 0.8–1 mm) with internodes under 0.2 mm. Inflorescences reach up to 15 cm in length, consisting of verticillasters bearing up to 10 flowers. Bracteoles are small, numerous, ovate, mucronate, and shorter than the calyx. The calyx is tubular, up to 4 mm long, sessile, 5-veined, with nearly equal teeth about 1 mm long. The white corolla is up to 6 mm long, white-hairy, and glandular; the tube is 4–5 mm, angular, and exserted. The upper lip is retuse; the lower lip has three lobes. There are four fertile stamens, all exserted, with lilac anthers. The style is exserted with a bi-lobed stigma. Nutlets are smooth and nearly ovoid.