L-Menthol 100%

TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a sensory cooling agent and fragrance/flavor component in lip, scalp, aftershave, oral-care, and body products. It creates a cold sensation without actually lowering skin temperature.

What does L-Menthol 100% do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is primarily a sensory cooling agent and fragrance/flavor component in lip, scalp, aftershave, oral-care, and body products. It creates a cold sensation without actually lowering skin temperature.

Is L-Menthol 100% clean?

Clean-beauty frameworks usually allow it, but it carries a practical sensitivity caveat because the cooling effect can feel sharp on reactive skin, around the eyes, or on mucous membranes. It may also fall under fragrance-allergen disclosure rules in some regions.

Is L-Menthol 100% sustainable?

This material can be isolated from botanical essential oils or made synthetically from petrochemical or terpene feedstocks, so sourcing matters. It is generally biodegradable, while crop-based supply can involve agricultural inputs and variable harvest yields.

Is L-Menthol 100% COSMOS-approved?

It can align with COSMOS-natural when derived from natural raw materials through allowed physical processes, while fully synthetic versions are not a straightforward fit for COSMOS natural or organic fragrance criteria. From a Green Chemistry view, the best profile is a renewable-source, solvent-light, readily biodegradable supply chain.

How does L-Menthol 100% work chemically?

The molecule is a chiral monocyclic terpene alcohol that activates TRPM8 cold receptors, which explains its cooling sensation and its potential to intensify stinging in sensitive areas. It is a lipophilic crystalline solid with low water solubility, good solubility in alcohols and oils, a melting point around 42 to 44°C, and typical use levels often around 0.05 to 1% in leave-on sensory products.

Last updated 2026-05-14