Overview

Menthol (MEN-thol) occurs naturally in the peppermint plant. In pure form it occurs as a white crystalline material with a cooling taste and odor. Peppermint is one of the oldest known herbal remedies. Dried peppermint leaves have been found in Egyptian pyramids dating to at least 1000 BCE, and its use among the Greeks and Romans in cooking and medical preparations is well known. Peppermint was not introduced to western Europe, however, until the eighteenth century, when it was used to treat a variety of ailments ranging from toothaches to morning sickness. It was first brought to the United States about a century later.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Hexahydrothymol; methylhydroxyisopropylcyclohexane; peppermint camphol

Formula:

CH₃C₆H₉ (C₃H₇)OH

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Compound Type:

Organic

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

156.26 g/mol

Melting Point:

41°C to 43°C (106°F to 109°F)

Boiling Point:

212°C (414°F)

Solubility:

Slightly soluble in...