Menthol

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    1490-04-6

    Molecular formula
    C10H20O

    SMILES
    CC1CCC(C(C1)O)C(C)C

    Safety labels

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Mint 83.0%
    Herbal 78.79%
    Camphoreous 68.05%
    Cooling 66.34%
    Sweet 58.81%
    Woody 55.48%
    Fresh 50.64%
    Earthy 50.59%
    Musty 48.09%
    Pine 43.75%

    Scent© AI

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    3.0

    Molecular weight
    156.26 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Moderately slow

    Melting point expt.

    • 100 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • -8 °C
    • MP: 43 °C /L-Menthol 2216-51-5/; MP 38 °C /DL-Menthol 89-78-1/

    Boiling point

    • 421 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
    • 214.6 °C
    • BP: 216.5 /menthol/; BP: 218.6 /isomenthol/; BP: 211.7 /neomenthol/; BP: 214.6 /isoneomenthol/
    • 214.00 to 216.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

    Flash point est.
    91.07 ˚C

    Flash point expt.

    • 196 °F (NTP, 1992)

    Solubility expt.

    • less than 1 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • In water, 420 mg/L at 25 °C
    • In water, 456 mg/L at 25 °C
    • Very soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether, petroleum ether, solvent hexane; freely soluble in glacial acetic acid, liquid petrolatum and in mineral, fixed and volatile oils /dl-Menthol/
    • 0.42 mg/mL at 25 °C
    • very soluble in alcohol and volatile oils; slightly soluble in water
    • Practically insoluble to insoluble
    • Sparingly soluble (in ethanol)

  • Synonyms

    • MENTHOL
    • dl-Menthol
    • 1490-04-6
    • 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol
    • 15356-70-4
    • 89-78-1
    • Cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-
    • Menthyl alcohol
    • p-Menthan-3-ol
    • Mentholum
    • Caswell No. 540
    • Mineral ice
    • 5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol
    • (+/-)-Menthol
    • Hexahydrothymol
    • 3-Hydroxy-p-menthane
    • CCRIS 9231
    • EINECS 216-074-4
    • Neomenthol
    • Menthol [USP]
    • Menthol natural
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 051601
    • rac-Menthol
    • HSDB 593
    • DTXSID8029650
    • AI3-08161
    • Therapeutic mineral ice
    • Menthol, dl-
    • 5-Methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanol
    • 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexan-1-ol
    • MFCD00001484
    • Fisherman's friend lozenges
    • Racementol
    • DTXCID30805
    • CHEBI:25187
    • (1R,2S,5R)-Menthol
    • EC 216-074-4
    • Menthol (USP)
    • (1S, 2S, 5R)-(+)-Neomenthol
    • 491-01-0
    • 5-methyl-2-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexanol
    • DL-ISOMENTHOL
    • Menthol 1000 microg/mL in Acetonitrile
    • 5-methyl-2-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexan-1-ol
    • (+/-)-Menthol, racemic
    • (1R,2R,5R)-Isomenthol
    • Racemic menthol
    • FEMA No. 2665
    • 491-02-1
    • 3-p-Menthanol
    • Menthol, cis-1,3,trans-1,4-
    • MEGGEZONE
    • MFCD00062983
    • Cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-, [1S-(1.alpha.,2.alpha.,5.beta.)]-
    • 3-p-Menthol
    • (+/-)-p-Menthan-3-ol
    • CAS-1490-04-6
    • L(-)-Menthol
    • Robitussin Cough Drops
    • UNII-L7T10EIP3A
    • (1R,2R,5R)-5-methyl-2-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexan-1-ol
    • 5-Methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohexanol
    • Menthol racemate
    • MFCD00062980
    • Cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-, (1.alpha.,2.beta.,5.alpha.)-
    • (-)menthol
    • NCGC00159382-02
    • (-) menthol
    • Menthol (Standard)
    • 4-Isopropyl-1-methylcyclohexan-3-ol
    • BOHENAO
    • Menthol, 99%
    • dextro,laevo-neomenthol
    • dl-Menthol (JP17)
    • 1-methyl-4-isopropyl-3-hydroxycyclohexane
    • Emtricitabine Impurity 9
    • MENTHOL (II)
    • MENTHOL (MART.)
    • MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED
    • SCHEMBL4612
    • L7T10EIP3A
    • Menthol, (.+/-.)-
    • Menthol, puriss., 99.0%
    • CHEMBL256087
    • DL-Menthol, analytical standard
    • MENTHOL (USP MONOGRAPH)
    • HY-N1369R
    • LEVOMENTHOL OR RACEMENTHOL
    • MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM
    • SALONPAS COMPONENT MENTHOL
    • Fisherman's friend lozenges (TN)
    • BDBM248162
    • HMS3744K19
    • 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol #
    • BCP27552
    • BCP31841
    • CS-M3737
    • HY-N1369
    • menthol crystals; 15356-70-4
    • QAA35670
    • MENTHOL COMPONENT OF SALONPAS
    • Tox21_200010
    • Tox21_303464
    • 1-Methyl-4-isopropyl-3-cyclohexanol
    • BBL009325
    • DL-Menthol, >=95%, FCC, FG
    • STK802468
    • AKOS000119740
    • AKOS016843634
    • Cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-, (1.alpha.,2.alpha.,5.beta.)-
    • SB35230
    • SB44308
    • SB44857
    • Menthol, SAJ special grade, >=98.0%
    • NCGC00159382-03
    • NCGC00159382-04
    • NCGC00159382-05
    • NCGC00159382-06
    • NCGC00257403-01
    • NCGC00257564-01
    • 1ST40117
    • FM178382
    • HY-75161
    • IE182323
    • IN182314
    • SY004225
    • SY010603
    • SY073200

  • Applications

    Menthol (CAS 1490-04-6) is widely used for its cooling sensation and minty aroma: in medicines and health care as a topical counterirritant for minor muscle/joint pain, antipruritic, and bite-sting soother, as well as in sports balms/gels and patches; in respiratory products such as vapor rubs, inhalers, lozenges, cough syrups, and throat sprays to cool mucosa and create a perceived airflow; in oral care (toothpastes, mouthwashes) for freshness and malodor control; in foods and beverages (candies, chewing gum, chocolates, teas/drinks) as a mint flavor and taste modulator that masks bitterness and heat; in cosmetics and personal care (shampoos, body washes, creams, lip balms, aftershaves) to deliver a cooling effect and fresh scent; in tobacco and nicotine products (cigarettes, snus, e-liquids) to provide cooling and reduce harshness; in perfumery as a mint-note modifier; as a pharmaceutical/formulation aid (bitterness masking, enhancing dermal permeation in gels/patches); in aromatherapy and household air-care to impart a clean, cool feel; and in organic synthesis as an intermediate to menthyl esters/carbamates or for chiral resolution (typically requiring enantiopure menthol for stereochemical applications). It is typically used at low levels due to high potency and potential for irritation/sensitization and is recognized by many regulators as GRAS for flavor use within specified limits.

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 1574.7
    methanol 1354.99
    isopropanol 1652.86
    water 0.56
    ethyl acetate 584.92
    n-propanol 1313.97
    acetone 884.3
    n-butanol 1211.62
    acetonitrile 1140.2
    DMF 446.81
    toluene 296.53
    isobutanol 888.57
    1,4-dioxane 1786.57
    methyl acetate 510.67
    THF 3091.57
    2-butanone 635.39
    n-pentanol 609.96
    sec-butanol 937.45
    n-hexane 347.01
    ethylene glycol 72.78
    NMP 426.01
    cyclohexane 584.71
    DMSO 491.86
    n-butyl acetate 977.56
    n-octanol 398.75
    chloroform 1896.7
    n-propyl acetate 417.51
    acetic acid 566.59
    dichloromethane 1290.71
    cyclohexanone 1015.37
    propylene glycol 161.29
    isopropyl acetate 356.01
    DMAc 217.71
    2-ethoxyethanol 382.65
    isopentanol 798.27
    n-heptane 423.74
    ethyl formate 453.05
    1,2-dichloroethane 700.33
    n-hexanol 1311.01
    2-methoxyethanol 741.29
    isobutyl acetate 281.91
    tetrachloromethane 402.49
    n-pentyl acetate 378.38
    transcutol 1034.93
    n-heptanol 460.92
    ethylbenzene 154.03
    MIBK 329.32
    2-propoxyethanol 956.1
    tert-butanol 1396.45
    MTBE 903.57
    2-butoxyethanol 488.96
    propionic acid 467.45
    o-xylene 169.33
    formic acid 105.72
    diethyl ether 1082.17
    m-xylene 200.92
    p-xylene 218.09
    chlorobenzene 410.05
    dimethyl carbonate 77.96
    n-octane 112.81
    formamide 138.94
    cyclopentanone 1084.63
    2-pentanone 599.63
    anisole 247.2
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 786.6
    gamma-butyrolactone 1071.44
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 564.9
    pyridine 887.14
    3-pentanone 318.29
    furfural 630.08
    n-dodecane 64.41
    diethylene glycol 352.8
    diisopropyl ether 292.41
    tert-amyl alcohol 734.87
    acetylacetone 330.5
    n-hexadecane 74.52
    acetophenone 186.11
    methyl propionate 294.59
    isopentyl acetate 735.18
    trichloroethylene 1033.96
    n-nonanol 330.21
    cyclohexanol 848.93
    benzyl alcohol 207.21
    2-ethylhexanol 672.84
    isooctanol 351.37
    dipropyl ether 912.94
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 309.49
    ethyl lactate 121.67
    propylene carbonate 546.13
    n-methylformamide 370.89
    2-pentanol 712.16
    n-pentane 352.69
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 804.71
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 425.39
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 271.19
    mesitylene 148.71
    ε-caprolactone 751.22
    p-cymene 196.47
    epichlorohydrin 1042.91
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 784.18
    2-aminoethanol 259.64
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 498.89
    sulfolane 683.06
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 102.76
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 1742.64
    n-hexyl acetate 477.1
    isooctane 112.47
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 432.99
    sec-butyl acetate 244.22
    tert-butyl acetate 357.72
    decalin 138.44
    glycerin 166.38
    diglyme 735.65
    acrylic acid 276.08
    isopropyl myristate 197.5
    n-butyric acid 935.14
    acetyl acetate 253.14
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 143.83
    ethyl propionate 269.95
    nitromethane 656.92
    1,2-diethoxyethane 641.52
    benzonitrile 428.82
    trioctyl phosphate 137.04
    1-bromopropane 818.34
    gamma-valerolactone 1057.45
    n-decanol 237.29
    triethyl phosphate 149.77
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 349.74
    propionitrile 964.33
    vinylene carbonate 425.02
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 441.46
    DMS 180.42
    cumene 125.15
    2-octanol 301.26
    2-hexanone 464.93
    octyl acetate 235.87
    limonene 367.4
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 846.55
    ethyl orthosilicate 171.14
    tributyl phosphate 159.14
    diacetone alcohol 334.41
    N,N-dimethylaniline 143.31
    acrylonitrile 722.85
    aniline 353.92
    1,3-propanediol 508.37
    bromobenzene 404.57
    dibromomethane 1103.91
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 793.0
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 342.59
    tetrabutyl urea 177.64
    diisobutyl methanol 354.38
    2-phenylethanol 353.32
    styrene 188.12
    dioctyl adipate 211.67
    dimethyl sulfate 96.47
    ethyl butyrate 494.8
    methyl lactate 122.32
    butyl lactate 254.82
    diethyl carbonate 258.89
    propanediol butyl ether 326.5
    triethyl orthoformate 341.47
    p-tert-butyltoluene 193.43
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 223.02
    morpholine 1792.14
    tert-butylamine 1135.25
    n-dodecanol 179.42
    dimethoxymethane 390.73
    ethylene carbonate 432.71
    cyrene 193.86
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 321.79
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 568.3
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 320.48
    4-methylpyridine 709.37
    dibutyl ether 564.04
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 354.38
    DEF 387.67
    dimethyl isosorbide 433.4
    tetrachloroethylene 560.98
    eugenol 196.42
    triacetin 244.51
    span 80 329.71
    1,4-butanediol 141.72
    1,1-dichloroethane 1000.1
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 406.72
    methyl formate 244.83
    2-methyl-1-butanol 638.87
    n-decane 129.48
    butyronitrile 1295.13
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 361.45
    1-chlorooctane 309.31
    1-chlorotetradecane 108.57
    n-nonane 140.67
    undecane 88.21
    tert-butylcyclohexane 131.08
    cyclooctane 166.47
    cyclopentanol 939.28
    tetrahydropyran 2240.53
    tert-amyl methyl ether 436.96
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 438.08
    1-hexene 683.4
    2-isopropoxyethanol 290.99
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 128.05
    methyl butyrate 391.65

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Peppermint (France) 4 8006-90-4 Mentha piperita L. cultivar Mitcham, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 5.85%
Peppermint (France) 1 8006-90-4 Mentha piperita L. cultivar Mitcham, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 5.85%
Peppermint (France) 2 8006-90-4 Mentha piperita L. cultivar Hongroise, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 3.33%
Peppermint (France) 3 8006-90-4 Mentha officinalis Sole forma Pallescens Camus, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.05%