What does menthol mean?
Menthol is an organic compound that gives peppermint and related plants their characteristic fresh aroma and distinctive cooling sensation. It occurs naturally in mint oils and is also produced synthetically for use in flavorings, fragrances, medicines, cosmetics, and tobacco products. Because menthol stimulates cold-sensitive sensory receptors, it can make the mouth or skin feel cool even when the temperature has not changed. The compound is best known from peppermint sweets, toothpaste, cough preparations, and certain cigarettes, although its use in tobacco has become controversial. In chemistry, menthol is classified as a cyclic alcohol and is valued for its distinctive properties and its role as the principal constituent of peppermint oil. The word also appears in compounds and derivatives such as mentholated, referring to something treated or flavored with menthol.
nounA crystalline organic compound with a strong, minty aroma and a cooling sensation, occurring naturally in peppermint and other plants and used as a flavoring, fragrance, and topical preparation. It is also used in products such as cigarettes, lozenges, toothpaste, and medicinal preparations.
- The crystalline compound responsible for peppermint's aroma and cooling sensation, used as a flavoring, fragrance, and topical ingredient.
"The chef added a small amount of menthol to the dessert for its distinctive cooling finish."
"The pharmacist recommended a menthol lozenge for the temporary relief of congestion."
"Menthol is added to some tobacco products to produce a cool sensation when inhaled."
Rare; menthol is normally used as an uncountable mass noun.
"The laboratory compared several samples of menthols with different levels of purity."
Menthol cools the skin by activating the same nerve receptors that detect genuine cold, so the refreshing sensation is more a chemical trick than a drop in temperature.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does menthol come from?
The word menthol was formed in German from Mentha, the Latin name associated with mint, together with the suffix -ol, which is used in chemical names for alcohols. The compound was identified and named in the 19th century as a characteristic constituent of peppermint oil. Its related names, including menthone and menthane, reflect the same older chemical terminology for substances associated with mint.
Related word forms
How menthol is actually used
Menthol is usually an uncountable mass noun. It may be described by a modifier such as “strong,” “high,” or “synthetic,” while “mentholated” indicates that a product has been treated or flavored with it. In cigarette labeling, “menthol” has been the focus of regulatory and public-health discussion.
Easily confused with menthol
Menthol is the alcohol compound associated with peppermint's cooling aroma, whereas menthone is a related ketone found in peppermint oil.