Menthol

Note Profile

Molecule 8 perfumes

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About

The isolated crystal, not the oil. It smells piercingly fresh, minty, light and clean, without the bitterness that whole mint oils carry. Its real distinguishing feature is physical: an intense numbing-cooling effect on skin and mucous membranes that the trade press calls unique among aromachemicals. At very low concentration it reads slightly warm instead, and the cooling only develops as the dose rises.

Scent Profile

Menthol smells piercingly fresh, minty, light and clean, without the bitterness of whole mint oils. Its real signature is not a smell but a feeling: an intense cooling, almost numbing effect that builds as the dose rises. At very low levels it can read slightly warm instead, before the cooling takes over.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeTop · ~3h lasting

Family Fresh & Citrus

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

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ScentArt

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Materials That Can Make This Note

Perfumers can use this material directly to make Menthol.

L-menthol mentholic · eucalyptus · cooling

Smell words come from published sources.

Allergens perfumes with this note can list: Menthol

A given perfume with this note may use this material, or something else, and may or may not contain the allergens above.

Origin

A cyclic monoterpene alcohol. The perfumery and flavour material is l-menthol, obtained by crystallising it out of cornmint oil, Mentha arvensis, or made synthetically. Most other cooling agents used in industry are themselves menthol derivatives.

Usage in Perfumery

Attested on 5 Fragrantica note listings and 11 Parfumo placements across 9 brands. Fragrantica files it under greens, herbs and fougeres. It is used for a cooling lift at the top of fougere, aromatic and sport structures, and heavily outside fine fragrance in oral care, confectionery and cough preparations.