A volatile compound isolated from peppermint oil. It causes a cooling sensation on the skin that can be very soothing. Menthol can also act as a topical painkiller. In more sensitive individuals, however, it may cause skin irritation or an allergy.
Soothing
Soothing
Soothing ingredients reduce the signs of sensitivity in irritated and inflamed skin. This includes anti-inflammatory ingredients, anti-itch agents, and topical analgesics.
Soothing
Soothing ingredients reduce the signs of sensitivity in irritated and inflamed skin. This includes anti-inflammatory ingredients, anti-itch agents, and topical analgesics.
Other functions
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Flavor,
Flavor
Flavor ingredients bring sweetness to a product or are used to recreate various tastes.
Flavor,
Flavor
Flavor ingredients bring sweetness to a product or are used to recreate various tastes.
Refreshing,
Refreshing
Refreshing ingredients leave the skin feeling refreshed and 'awake'.
Refreshing,
Refreshing
Refreshing ingredients leave the skin feeling refreshed and 'awake'.
Denaturant
Denaturant
Denaturant – turns alcohol undrinkable.
Denaturant
Denaturant
Denaturant – turns alcohol undrinkable.
Origin
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Synthetic
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Synthetic
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Menthol is a volatile, crystallic compound isolated from peppermint oil. The components of essential oils are usually liquid, but menthol is a notable exception. The crystals of pure menthol are colorless, needle-like, and very fragile. They evaporate quickly if you leave them in the open air.
Menthol has a cooling scent and causes a cooling sensation when applied to the skin. It has many different uses in topical products.
Apart from its use as a fragrance, it can also act as a topical painkiller, which is why it was used in many old-timey liniments against muscle and joint ache. It also enhances the absorption and effect of other topical painkillers, so is often utilized in medical-grade anti-inflammatory and painkilling creams and gels.
The cooling sensation can be very soothing to the skin. In more sensitive individuals, however, it may cause skin irritation or an allergy. It is not suitable for children under the age of 6 because very small children cannot inhale menthol properly.
Science
1
Kamatou, G. P., Vermaak, I., Viljoen, A. M., & Lawrence, B. M. (2013). Menthol: a simple monoterpene with remarkable biological properties. Phytochemistry, 96, 15–25.
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