Menthol is a well-recognized element that is found in a variety of items including cosmetics, chocolate, gum, toothpaste and cigarettes. It is derived from the essential oil of the Mentha species, giving them their distinct minty smell and flavor. When it comes to skincare, however, menthol is a complicated issue. It can provide a cooling sensation that can last up to 70 minutes, and it has medicinal properties that can reduce pain, itchiness, and bacterial or fungal growth. Additionally, it can also enhance skin penetration. On the other hand, menthol can also act as an irritant that increases the amount of water lost from the outer layer of skin, leading to dehydration. It is both naturally derived from peppermint oil and synthetically manufactured in abundance.

Menthol (Wikipedia)

Not to be confused with Methanol or Methanal.

Menthol is an organic compound, more specifically a monoterpenoid, made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. It is a waxy, clear or white crystalline substance, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above.

Menthol

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 5-Methyl-2-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexan-1-ol
Other names 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexan-1-ol 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol 3-p-Menthanol Hexahydrothymol Menthomenthol Peppermint camphor
Identifiers
CAS Number	2216-51-5 (levomenthol) Y 89-78-1 (racementhol) Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:15409 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL470670 Y
ChemSpider	15803 Y
DrugBank	DB00825 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.016.992
EC Number	218-690-9
IUPHAR/BPS	2430
KEGG	C00400
PubChem CID	16666
RTECS number	OT0350000, racemic
UNII	BZ1R15MTK7 (levomenthol) Y YS08XHA860 (racementhol) Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1022180
InChI InChI=1S/C10H20O/c1-7(2)9-5-4-8(3)6-10(9)11/h7-11H,4-6H2,1-3H3/t8-,9+,10-/m1/s1 Y Key: NOOLISFMXDJSKH-KXUCPTDWSA-N Y InChI=1S/C10H20O/c1-7(2)9-5-4-8(3)6-10(9)11/h7-11H,4-6H2,1-3H3/t8-,9+,10-/m1/s1 Key: NOOLISFMXDJSKH-KXUCPTDWSA-N
SMILES O[C@H]1[C@H](C(C)C)CC[C@@H](C)C1
Properties
Chemical formula	C10H20O
Molar mass	156.269 g·mol−1
Appearance	White or colorless crystalline solid
Density	0.890 g·cm−3, solid (racemic or (−)-isomer)
Melting point	36–38 °C (97–100 °F; 309–311 K) racemic 42–45 °C, (−)-isomer, α crystalline form
Boiling point	214.6 °C (418.3 °F; 487.8 K)
Solubility in water	Slightly soluble, (−)-isomer
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Irritant, flammable
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H319
Precautionary statements	P264, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	2 0 0
Flash point	93 °C (199 °F; 366 K)
Safety data sheet (SDS)	External MSDS
Related compounds
Related alcohols	Cyclohexanol, Pulegol, Dihydrocarveol, Piperitol
Related compounds	Menthone, Menthene, Thymol, p-Cymene, Citronellal
Supplementary data page
Menthol (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

The main form of menthol occurring in nature is (−)-menthol, which is assigned the (1R,2S,5R) configuration. Menthol has local anesthetic and counterirritant qualities, and it is widely used to relieve minor throat irritation. Menthol also acts as a weak κ-opioid receptor agonist.