Menthol

Note Profile

Molecule

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

Cooling_mentholic is nearly the entire vector and all three sources say the same thing. Perfumer & Flavorist calls the cooling far greater than a solvent's and, at rising concentration, overwhelming and anaesthetic. Scentspiracy calls the profile piercingly fresh, minty and clean. No other facet reaches the 0.25 naming line, and that is the finding rather than a gap. Aromatic_herbal is held down on purpose: Scentspiracy says pure menthol is devoid of the herbaceous bitterness found in whole essential oils, so it sits below the published peppermint and mint. Sweet_vanillic is the clean, sweet character Scentspiracy contrasts with high-menthone mint materials. Green is an inference from the mint association and no source states it, which is why its spread is 0.10, larger than the value.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeTop · ~3h lasting

Family Fresh & Citrus

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

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.