Menthol Crystal

Product Information

CosmySupplies supplies Menthol Crystals Cosmetic Grade (INCI: Menthol, CAS: 2216-51-5) in India. USP grade, 99.7% purity, phthalate-free, derived from Mentha arvensis. Melting point 42 to 44 degrees Celsius. Cooling sensation for balms, foot care, and scalp products. Must be dissolved in oil or alcohol before use. Not for children under 2 years. COA available on request. Shipped from Bengaluru across India.

INCI: Menthol  |  CAS: 2216-51-5 (l-menthol, natural)  |  Source: Mentha arvensis (cornmint) essential oil  |  Grade: USP, Cosmetic Grade  |  Purity: 99.7% per supplier

Physical Form: Colorless to white crystalline solid (prismatic or oblong crystals). Melts at 42 to 44 degrees Celsius.

Functions: Fragrance | Cooling Agent | Skin Conditioning Agent | Denaturant

Solubility: Soluble in alcohol and oils. NOT water-soluble. Must be pre-dissolved before incorporation.

Used In: Balms and Salves | Foot Care Products | Scalp Treatments | Cooling Gels | Shower Steamers | Foot Soaks | Scrubs | Peppermint Cosmetics

NOT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 2 YEARS: Do not apply to or near the face of children under 2 years.

Menthol produces its characteristic cooling sensation not by physically lowering skin temperature but by activating TRPM8 cold receptors in the skin — the same receptors triggered by actual cold temperature. This creates a genuine cooling and tingling sensation on the skin surface without any change in actual temperature, making it a functionally unique ingredient in cosmetics. The cooling intensity is concentration-dependent: at 0.2 to 1% it produces a mild refreshing sensation suitable for body care and scalp products; at 2 to 5% it produces a strong cooling and tingling sensation used in foot balms and medicated-style cooling gels; above 5% it can cause irritation, particularly on sensitive or damaged skin.

Benefits

•        Delivers a distinctive cooling and tingling sensation on the skin surface by activating TRPM8 cold receptors, providing a genuinely refreshing experience in foot care, scalp, and body care formulations that no synthetic fragrance can replicate.

•        USP grade, 99.7% purity, phthalate-free per supplier brief — a clean specification profile appropriate for cosmetic formulations where purity is a brand positioning requirement.

•        Contributes a strong, fresh, clean peppermint-minty aroma that is one of the most immediately recognisable and commercially accepted cosmetic fragrance profiles across foot care, scalp care, and spa-inspired body care segments in the Indian market.

•        Melts at 42 to 44 degrees Celsius, enabling incorporation into warm oil phases of balms, creams, and body butters by simple addition at slightly above melting temperature without requiring specialised processing equipment.

•        Functions as a cooling agent in shower steamers and foot soaks where the crystals dissolve in water or steam, releasing the characteristic menthol aroma and the mild cooling vapour that is the primary sensory appeal of these product formats.

•        Boosts and extends the cooling and freshening effect in peppermint essential oil-containing formulations, adding the pure cooling function of isolated menthol to the complex aromatic profile of the whole essential oil.

How to Use

Dissolution — Mandatory: Menthol Crystals must be dissolved before incorporation into formulations. They do not blend directly into products as solid crystals. Dissolve in a carrier oil or liquid oil component of your formulation by gentle warming above 44 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, dissolve in a small amount of cosmetic-grade alcohol (ethanol) before adding to the formulation. Never add solid crystals directly to water-based products as they will not dissolve.

In Balms and Salves: Dissolve Menthol Crystals in the oil or wax phase during heating above the melting point (44 degrees Celsius). Add at 0.5 to 2% of total formula weight for a mild cooling effect in lip balms and body balms. For a strong cooling foot balm, use at 2 to 5%.

In Foot Care Products: Use at 1 to 5% for foot balms, foot scrubs, and cooling foot soaks. Dissolve in the oil phase before combining. At 2 to 5% in a foot balm, Menthol delivers a strong, long-lasting cooling and tingling sensation appropriate for tired and overheated feet.

In Scalp Treatments: Dissolve in a carrier oil or the oil phase of a scalp serum or hair oil at 0.5 to 2%. The cooling scalp sensation is commercially well-positioned in Indian hair care for heat-relief and refreshing scalp products.

In Cooling Gels: Dissolve Menthol Crystals in a small amount of ethanol first, then add the menthol-alcohol solution to the gel base. At 1 to 3% in a cooling gel, Menthol delivers an immediate and strong cooling effect on application.

In Shower Steamers: Add Menthol Crystals to the dry blend of shower steamer formulations at 0.5 to 3% before pressing. The hot shower water dissolves the menthol, releasing the cooling vapour and peppermint aroma into the shower steam.

Usage Rate Guidance: 0.2 to 0.5% for mild refreshing sensation in body care | 0.5 to 2% for moderate cooling in scalp and hair products | 2 to 5% for strong cooling in foot care and balms | Above 5% only for experienced formulators — risk of irritation on sensitive skin.

Child Safety: Do not apply Menthol-containing products to or near the face of children under 2 years.

For formulation ratios, batch guidance, and troubleshooting support, contact the CosmySupplies team directly.

WhatsApp   |  Email: info@cosmysupplies.com

Technical Information

Pairs Well With

Peppermint Essential Oil is the natural companion to Menthol Crystals in cooling formulations. Peppermint EO provides the complex aromatic profile of the whole essential oil; Menthol Crystals boost the pure cooling intensity. The combination in a foot balm or scalp oil produces a formulation where the aroma and the cooling sensation are both maximised.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil combined with Menthol Crystals in a cooling body balm or shower steamer creates an intensely fresh, invigorating aromatic accord. Both ingredients contribute cooling characters — menthol through TRPM8 receptor activation, eucalyptus 1,8-cineole through a similar but distinct receptor mechanism.

Shea Butter or coconut oil as the dissolving carrier for Menthol Crystals in balm formulations provides a rich emollient base that moderates the skin-feel intensity of the menthol and ensures even distribution of the crystals through the balm structure.

Kaolin Clay in foot scrub formulations combined with dissolved Menthol Crystals creates a cooling, absorbent foot treatment where the clay provides the scrubbing and oil-absorption function and the menthol provides the cooling and refreshing sensation.

Tea Tree Essential Oil at 0.5 to 1% combined with Menthol Crystals in foot care formulations adds an antimicrobial-adjacent fragrance positioning alongside the cooling function of the menthol, creating a comprehensive foot care product profile.

Important Information

CHILD SAFETY — MANDATORY: Do not apply Menthol Crystals or finished products containing Menthol to or near the face of children under 2 years. Menthol can cause breathing difficulties in young children.

DISSOLUTION MANDATORY: Menthol Crystals must be dissolved in oil or alcohol before incorporation into formulations. Never add solid crystals directly to water-based products.

For external cosmetic use only. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. At concentrations above 1% on facial skin, Menthol may cause irritation — use with caution on sensitive facial skin. Perform a patch test before full application of finished products containing Menthol above 1%. Keep out of reach of children. Store sealed away from heat.