Menthol (CAS 89-78-1) — Green Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Menthol
CAS 89-78-1
What Is Menthol?
Menthol is a cooling compound found naturally in mint plants like peppermint and spearmint. It’s commonly encountered in products like toothpaste, cough drops, and topical pain relievers. Menthol triggers cold-sensitive receptors in the skin and mucous membranes, creating a refreshing sensation without actual temperature change. This makes it valuable for soothing irritations and enhancing sensory experiences in both medicinal and consumer products.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Menthol Smell Like?
Menthol bursts with an icy, piercing freshness like winter wind through a pine forest. The initial sharpness carries medicinal undertones before softening into a clean, herbaceous heart. As it dries down, it leaves a faintly sweet, earthy trail reminiscent of crushed mint leaves at dawn. The cooling sensation persists long after the scent fades, creating a unique olfactory-tactile synergy.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Menthol amplifies the aquatic freshness, creating a bracing contrast to the lavender heart and woody base. Its cooling effect enhances the ‘water’ illusion.
Pure mint explosion where menthol dominates the top notes, paired with spearmint and peppermint for a hyper-realistic toothpaste-like freshness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)[C@@H]1CC[C@@H](C)C[C@H]1O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Menthol is a monoterpenoid alcohol with three stereocenters, occurring naturally as (-)-menthol in Mentha species. Industrial production involves either isolation from peppermint oil or synthesis from thymol via hydrogenation. The (-)-isomer has significantly stronger cooling effects than other stereoisomers due to specific TRPM8 receptor interactions. Modern asymmetric synthesis routes can achieve >90% enantiomeric purity.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 212 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 42-45 °C |
| Flash Point | 93 °C |
| Density | 0.89 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Used sparingly for cooling accent |
| Functional Fragrances | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Toothpastes, shaving products |
Classic Accords
+ Lime + Basil = Mojito
Tip: Balance with warm notes like vanilla to prevent excessive cooling.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Synthetic coolant without mint odor, used when pure cooling effect is desired without altering fragrance profile.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers menthol safe at current use levels based on extensive historical data.
Sustainability
Natural menthol production requires significant peppermint cultivation, with sustainability challenges including water use and land competition. Synthetic production offers consistent quality but relies on petrochemical feedstocks. New biotechnological routes using engineered microbes show promise for greener production.
Explore Menthol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Eccles R. (1994). Menthol and related cooling compounds. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. PMID 7539489
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 89-78-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 156.26 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 216.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 1 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 91.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0862💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.523💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1CCC(C(C1)O)C(C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | menthol• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| Menthol has a mint-like odor and exerts a cooling sensation when applied to skin and mucosal surfaces. Menthol is a monocyclic terpene alcohol with three asymmetric carbon atoms in its cyclohexane ring resulting in (–) and (+) menthol, neomenthol, isomenthol and neoisomenthol. (–)-Menthol is the isomer that occurs most widely in nature and is the one commonly identified as menthol.📖 Fenaroli | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 1.5625 ppm (n=18)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| EU Annex III | Listed (restricted)⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID1020805
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 156.269 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.895 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 214.037 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 37.694 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 91.37 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.457 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 175.542 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.45 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.242 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.242 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.6 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.003 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.11 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 9.449 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 29.625 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 129.72 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 47.833 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.963 Å^3📊 OPERA |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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