GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Peppermint
Mentha x piperita L.
Chemotype: menthol / menthone type
- PLANT PART
- fresh aerial parts of the flowering plant
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- top
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 80 / 100
- Note layer
- top
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- 5.4%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No furocoumarin-related phototoxic restriction was identified for peppermint oil in the reviewed sources.
Contraindications & cautions
- majorDo not apply near the face of infants or young children because menthol inhalation may adversely affect breathing.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This profile is anchored to the normative chromatographic profile in ISO 856:2006 for peppermint oil from origins other than the US subtype. The oil is characteristically menthol-rich with menthone as the main secondary ketone, plus smaller but controlled amounts of cineole, limonene, menthofuran, neomenthol, pulegone, menthyl acetate, and beta-caryophyllene.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,8-Cineole | 5.5% | 3–8% | monoterpene oxide | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / lines 199-210: 1,8-Cineole 3.0-8.0%) |
| Limonene | 2% | 1–3% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / lines 199-211: Limonene 1.0-3.0%) |
| Menthone | 20.5% | 13–28% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 213: Menthone 13.0-28.0%) |
| Isomenthone | 5% | 2–8% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 214: Isomenthone 2.0-8.0%) |
| Menthofuran | 4.5% | 1–8% | monoterpene ether | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 215: Menthofuran 1.0-8.0%) |
| Neomenthol | 4% | 2–6% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 216: Neomenthol 2.0-6.0%) |
| Menthol | 40.5% | 32–49% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 217: Menthol 32.0-49.0%) |
| Pulegone | 1.75% | 0.5–3% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 218: Pulegone 0.5-3.0%) |
| Menthyl acetate | 5% | 2–8% | monoterpene ester | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 219: Menthyl acetate 2.0-8.0%) |
| beta-Caryophyllene | 2.25% | 1–3.5% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf (Table 1, PDF p.5 / line 220: beta-Caryophyllene 1.0-3.5%) |
Profile source: ISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.); AromaWeb Peppermint Essential Oil profile; CIR Amended Safety Assessment of Mentha piperita (Peppermint) · https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/32041/8ff711801a1441418846340c584a46d4/ISO-856-2006.pdf ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/peppermint-essential-oil.php ; https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/Peppermint.pdf
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for mental alertness and clarity
- reported to support respiratory comfort via its cooling, minty aroma
- traditionally associated with easing occasional digestive discomfort
- used in massage blends for muscle comfort and a cooling sensation
- widely used in perfumery, oral care, and flavoring for its sharp, fresh mint character
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- Odor intensity 80 is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's qualitative strength band `Strong`; no source-native 0-100 scale was publicly available in this pass.
- No public source reviewed in this pass provided verified volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values.