Common products:
The primary commercial product from Mentha × piperita is peppermint essential oil (EO) distilled from fresh or partially dried herb. Ethanol extracts (tinctures, oleoresins) and CO2 extracts are also produced for flavor and fragrance applications. Menthol crystals are isolated from the EO by chilling and filtration and sold as a fragrance and flavor ingredient. Less common forms include dried leaf and comminuted herb used directly as a flavoring material in processed foods. Main constituents are menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate, limonene, and 1,8-cineole (EUR Ph).

Industrial and craft applications:
- Fragrance and flavor uses: the EO and menthol function as top notes and cooling agents in perfumes, soaps, detergents, and household cleaners. They are used to flavor beverages, confectionery, ice cream, desserts, chewing gum, toothpaste and oral care blends, and to aroma-correct or mask off-notes in baked goods and dairy (Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association; Burdock’s Fenaroli).
- Adhesives, coatings, and functional polymers: resin-soluble fractions of the EO are evaluated as adhesion promoters and resin modifiers for thermosetting systems. Menthol is used to impart temporary plasticity or modify surface gloss in coatings, though dose limits and compatibility must be controlled.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Peppermint EO and menthol are used as natural flavors in alcoholic beverages (liqueurs, spirits), carbonated soft drinks, confectionery and chocolate, bakery fillings and icings, dairy (mints, ice cream), and savory snacks. Typical use levels are kept low to avoid overcoolant sensory effects. The dried leaf can be used as a spice/seasoning in culinary blends. EO is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a food flavor in the U.S. (U.S. FDA 21 CFR §182.20). In the EU, peppermint oil is a regulated flavoring with maximum levels in specific food categories (EU Flavouring Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; FEMA GRAS lists also referenced).

Colorants and tanning:
No documented use as a dye or tannin source.

Wood and fiber:
No documented timber or fiber use.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The EO, menthol, and leaf extract are used as fragrance components and functional ingredients in perfumes, deodorants, body washes, shampoos, oral care, and aftershaves. EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 sets limits for menthol in leave-on products; IFRA standards restrict use levels and require testing for some oxidation products.

Properties relevant to use:
- EO composition is dominated by monoterpenes; menthol content typically >40–60% in good-quality oils (EUR Ph), providing a strong cooling character.
- High menthol oils yield menthol crystals at low temperature (eutectic behavior). Eugenol content is limited; pulegone is restricted to low levels under some standards.
- Solubility in alcohols and resins favors integration into fragrance systems; the characteristic menthol menthol + menthone balance gives “peppermint” aroma with lingering coolness.

Standards and regulation:
- Essential oil: ISO 3216 (Peppermint oil, Mentha × piperita) specifies quality parameters and key constituent ranges. Ph. Eur./USP–NF monographs further define identity and purity.
- Food and beverage: U.S. FDA 21 CFR §182.20 (GRAS flavor); EU Flavouring Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008.
- Cosmetics: EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009; IFRA standards govern quantitative use restrictions.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Peppermint is cultivated as an annual/biennial herb in temperate regions (U.S., EU, India, China). Oil yield depends on harvest timing and distillation capacity. Air-drying of leaf before distillation can be energy-intensive; methods that reduce loss of top notes are preferred. Agronomic sustainability concerns include soil erosion on repeated cultivation and water use; mechanized harvesting and careful rotation help mitigate impacts.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Mentha balsamea	Willd.	Enum. Pl. : 608 (1809)
Mentha banatica	Heinr.Braun	Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 40: 403 (1890)
Mentha concinna	Pérard	Cat. Rais. Pl. Montluçon , Suppl.: 21 (1878)
Mentha crispula	Wender.	Flora 12(1 Erg.): 27 (1829)
Mentha durandoana	Malinv. ex Batt. & Trab.	Fl. Algérie , Dicot.: 669 (1890)
Mentha exaltata	Heinr.Braun	Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 40: 417 (1890)
Mentha fraseri	Druce	Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 8: 315 (1927 publ. 1928)
Mentha glabra	Bellardi ex Colla	Herb. Pedem. 4: 430. 1835 (1835)
Mentha glabrata	Vahl	Symb. Bot. 3: 75 (1794)
Mentha hercynica	Roehl.	Deutschl. Fl. (Röhling), ed. 2, Phanerog. Gew. 328. 1812 ; ex Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ. ed. I. 550
Mentha heuffelii	Heinr.Braun	Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 40: 404 (1890)
Mentha hircina	J.Fraser	J. Bot. 70: 40 (1932)
Mentha hircina	Hull	Brit. Fl. 1: 127 (1799)
Mentha hirtescens	Heinr.Braun & Topitz	Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 13: 148. 1895 [18 Nov 1895]
Mentha hudsoniana	Heinr.Braun	Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 40: 402 (1890)
Mentha kahirina	Forssk.	Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. : 213 (1775)
Mentha langii	Geiger ex T.Nees	Düsseld. Samml. Suppl. 2: 25 (1833)
Mentha napolitana	Ten.	Fl. Napol. 5: t. 242 (1836)
Mentha nigricans	Mill.	Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 12 (1768)
Mentha odora	Salisb.	Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 80 (1796)
Mentha odorata	Sole	Menth. Brit. 21 1798
Mentha officinalis	Hull	Brit. Fl. 1: 127 (1799)
Mentha pimentum	Nees ex Bluff & Fingerh.	Comp. Fl. German. 2: 13 (1825)
Mentha piperita subsp. citrata	(Ehrh.) Briq.	Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève 5: 62. 1899
Mentha piperita var. hispidula	Briq.	Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 704 (1894)
Mentha piperita var. ouweneelii	Lebeau & Lambinon	Bull. Soc. Échange Pl. Vasc. Eur. Occid. Bassin Médit. 22: 21 (1986-1987 publ. 1988)
Mentha piperita var. pennsylvanica	Briq.	Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 703 (1894)
Mentha piperita var. subhirsuta	Benth.	Labiat. Gen. Spec. 176. 1833
Mentha schultzii	Boutigny ex F.W.Schultz	Arch. Fl. France Allemagne 2: 283 (1858)
Mentha tenuis	Frank ex Benth.	Prodr. 12: 169 (1848)
Mentha piperita var. pimentum	(Nees ex Bluff & Fingerh.) Nyman	Consp. Fl. Eur. 596. 1881
Mentha piperita var. hercynica	(Röhl.) Briq.	Prodr. Fl. Belg. 3: 694. 1903
Mentha piperita var. crispula	(Wender.) Heinr.Braun	Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 40: 403. 1890
Mentha piperita var. calophylla	Briq.	Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 703. 1894
Mentha piperita var. durandoana	(Malinv. ex Batt.) Briq.	Lab. Alp. Mar. 72 1891
Mentha braousiana	Pérard	Rev. Monogr. Mentha 8. 1878 (1878)
Mentha piperita var. braousiana	(Pérard) Briq.	Prodr. Fl. Belg. 3: 694. 1903
Mentha piperita var. officinalis	Sole	Menth. Brit. : 15 (1798)
Mentha piperita var. hudsoniana	Heinr.Braun	Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 40: 402. 1890
Mentha suavis var. schultzii	(Boutigny ex F.W.Schultz) Briq.	Prodr. Fl. Belg. 3: 696. 1903
Mentha piperita var. calvifolia	Briq.	Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 703. 1894
Mentha piperita var. beckeri	Briq.	Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 703. 1894
Mentha maximilianea var. schultzii	(Boutigny ex F.W.Schultz) Briq.	Lab. Alp. Mar. 64. 1891
Mentha piperita var. poicila	Topitz	Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 30(2): 217. 1913
Mentha piperita f. rotundella	Topitz	Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 30(2): 218 1913
Mentha piperita var. globosiceps	Briq.	Lab. Alp. Mar. 73. 1891
Mentha canescens var. schultzii	(Boutigny ex F.W.Schultz) Rouy	Fl. France 11: 375. 1909
Mentha piperita var. balsamea	(Willd.) Rouy	Fl. France 11: 377. 1909
Mentha piperita var. piperoides	(Malinv.) Rouy	Fl. France 11: 378. 1909
Mentha piperoides	Malinv.	Bull. Soc. Bot. France 54: 653. 1907 (1907)
Mentha piperita f. puberula	Topitz	Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 14: 64 1914
Mentha piperita var. heuffelii	(Heinr.Braun) Topitz	Magyar Bot. Lapok 15: 154. 1917
Mentha hortensis	Ten.	Index Seminum (NAP, Neapolitano) 1833: 14 (1833)
Mentha hortensis var. citrata	Ten.	Index Seminum (NAP, Neapolitano) 1833: 14 (1833)
Mentha aquatica f. piperita	(L.) G.Mey.	Chloris Han. 290 1836
Mentha piperita var. sylvestris	Sole	Menth. Brit. : 53, 24 (1798)
Mentha piperita var. vulgaris	Sole	Menth. Brit. : 19, 8 (1798)
Mentha glomerata var. piperita	(L.) Gray	Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 362 (1821 publ. 1822)
Mentha aquatica var. langii	(Geiger ex T.Nees) Alef.	Landw. Fl. : 116 (1866)
Mentha piperita var. hircina	Gray	Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 366 (1821 publ. 1822)
Mentha viridis var. piperita	(L.) Corb.	Nouv. Fl. Normandie : 469 (1894)
Mentha aquatica var. piperita	(L.) Alef.	Landw. Fl. : 115 (1866)
Mentha piperita var. langii	W.D.J.Koch	Deutschl. Fl. , ed. 3, 4: 250 (1833)
Mentha piperita var. officinalis	W.D.J.Koch	Deutschl. Fl. , ed. 3, 4: 250 (1833)

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	peppermint
Spanish	menta piperita
Arabic	شكلس
Arabic	نعناع فلفلي
Arabic	النعناع البلدي
Arabic	نعنع حريف
Arabic	نعناع
Arabic	فلفلي
ba	Бөтнөк үләне
Belarusian	сабаччая мята
Belarusian	дзікая мята
Belarusian	мята перная
Belarusian	мята пятрова
Belarusian	мята халодная
Belarusian	палявая мята
Belarusian	простая мята
Belarusian	шумята
Belarusian	мята перцавая
Catalan	menta pebrera
Catalan	herba-sana
Catalan	menta piperita
Czech	máta peprná
Czech	máta citronová
Welsh	mintys poeth
Danish	peber-mynte
Danish	pebermynte
German	pfefferminze
German	pfeffer-minze
German	pfefferminz
German	pfefferminztee
Greek	μέντα
Esperanto	pipromento
Estonian	piparmünt
Estonian	vehvermints
Estonian	mentha nigricans
Basque	mendafin
Persian	سوسنبر
Persian	نعناع فلفلی
Persian	نعنای فلفلی
Finnish	piparminttu
French	menthe poivrée
French	menthe poivree
frr	pöbermünt
Galician	menta común
Hebrew	נענע חריפה
Hindi	पिपरमिंट
Croatian	paprena metvica
Upper Sorbian	zahrodna mjetlička
ht	ti bonm
Hungarian	borsmenta
Armenian	անանուխ
hyw	Անանուխ
Indonesian	pepermin
Icelandic	piparmenta
Icelandic	piparminta
Italian	menta piperita
Italian	menta di pancalieri
Japanese	セイヨウハッカ
Japanese	ペッパーミント
Japanese	西洋薄荷
Japanese	ペパーミント
Kazakh	Бұрышты жалбыз
Korean	멘사 파이페리타
Korean	페퍼민트
Korean	박하
Cornish	pubermenta
lb	peffermënz
lb	peffermanz
lez	Пурни
Lithuanian	pipirmėtė
Latvian	piparmētra
Latvian	piparmētras
Macedonian	питомо нане
Macedonian	луто нане
Malayalam	കർപ്പൂരതുളസി
Malay	pudina
mzn	سرسم
Norwegian Bokmål	peppermynte
Dutch	pepermunt
nrm	p'per'mene
nrm	p'pèr'mène
nrm	peperman
nrm	pépermàn
olo	persudušmanku
os	Судзаг битъына
Polish	mięta lekarska
Polish	mięta pieprzowa
Pashto	تور ويلني
Pashto	تور وېلنی
Portuguese	hortelã-de-folha-miúda
Portuguese	hortelã-pimenta
Romanian	izmă bună
Russian	Мята перечная
Russian	Перечная мята
sd	پيپرمنٽ
sd	مينٽا پائپريٽا
sd	ڦودنو
Serbo-Croatian	pepermint
Serbo-Croatian	pitoma nana
Serbo-Croatian	pitoma metvica
Slovak	feferminc
Slovak	mäta pieporná
Slovenian	poprova meta
Serbian	питома нана
Serbian	Питома нана
Swedish	pepparmynta
Tamil	மிளகுக்கீரை
tg	Наъно
Thai	เปปเปอร์มินต์
Turkish	bahçe nanesi
Turkish	biber nanesi
tt	Борыч бөтнек
Ukrainian	Перцева м'ята
Ukrainian	М'ята перцева
Urdu	پودینے کا ست peppermint
Urdu	کالی مرچ
Urdu	مینٹا پائپریٹا
Vietnamese	rau bạc hà
Vietnamese	bạc hà
Vietnamese	bạc hà Âu
Chinese	辣薄荷
Chinese	椒薄荷
Chinese	胡椒薄荷

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

Suggest a correction or add new data!

No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- Macaronesia
  - Azores
  - Canary Islands
  - Cape Verde
  - Madeira
- Northeast Tropical Africa
  - Eritrea
  - Ethiopia
- Northern Africa
  - Algeria
  - Egypt
  - Libya
  - Morocco
  - Tunisia

Antarctica click to expand
- Subantarctic Islands
  - Falkland Islands

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Caucasus
  - North Caucasus
- Middle Asia
  - Kirgizstan
- Siberia
  - Altay
  - West Siberia
- Western Asia
  - Iran
  - Lebanon-Syria
  - Palestine
  - Turkey

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - India
  - West Himalaya

Australasia click to expand
- Australia
  - Norfolk Island
  - Tasmania
- New Zealand
  - New Zealand North
  - New Zealand South

Europe click to expand
- Eastern Europe
  - Baltic States
  - Belarus
  - Central European Russia
  - East European Russia
  - South European Russia
  - Ukraine
- Middle Europe
  - Austria
  - Belgium
  - Czechoslovakia
  - Germany
  - Hungary
  - Netherlands
  - Poland
  - Switzerland
- Northern Europe
  - Denmark
  - Great Britain
  - Ireland
- Southeastern Europe
  - Bulgaria
  - Greece
  - Italy
  - Romania
  - Sicilia
  - Yugoslavia
- Southwestern Europe
  - Baleares
  - France
  - Portugal
  - Spain

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - New Brunswick
  - Nova Scotia
  - Ontario
  - Prince Edward Island
  - Québec
- Mexico
  - Mexico Northwest
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Iowa
  - Kansas
  - Minnesota
  - Missouri
  - Nebraska
  - Oklahoma
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Connecticut
  - Indiana
  - Maine
  - Massachusetts
  - Michigan
  - New Hampshire
  - New Jersey
  - New York
  - Ohio
  - Pennsylvania
  - Rhode Island
  - Vermont
  - West Virginia
- Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Colorado
  - Idaho
  - Montana
  - Oregon
  - Washington
- South-central U.S.A.
  - Texas
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama
  - Arkansas
  - Delaware
  - District Of Columbia
  - Florida
  - Georgia
  - Kentucky
  - Louisiana
  - Maryland
  - Mississippi
  - North Carolina
  - South Carolina
  - Tennessee
  - Virginia
- Southwestern U.S.A.
  - California
  - Nevada
  - Utah
- Subarctic America
  - Alaska
- Western Canada
  - British Columbia

Pacific click to expand
- Northwestern Pacific
  - Caroline Islands
- South-central Pacific
  - Society Islands
- Southwestern Pacific
  - Fiji
  - Gilbert Islands

Southern America click to expand
- Brazil
  - Brazil South
- Caribbean
  - Bermuda
  - Cuba
  - Dominican Republic
  - Haiti
  - Puerto Rico
- Southern South America
  - Argentina Northeast
  - Argentina Northwest
  - Argentina South
  - Chile Central
  - Chile North
- Western South America
  - Galápagos

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000241184
Florida Plant Atlas	1405
Flora of Alabama	2422
Canadensys	6410
USDA Plants	MEPI
Tropicos	17600157
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:450969-1
The Plant List	kew-125188
Nature Serve	2.153672
IPNI	450969-1
iNaturalist	361371
GBIF	2927179
Freebase	/m/05s38
WisFlora	13138
EPPO	MENPI
EOL	579698
Elurikkus	5704
Calflora (Californian flora)	5412
US Library of Congress	sh85099669
USDA GRIN	24078
Wikipedia	Peppermint

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

On terpenes. CLXXXIV. Sesquiterpenic hydrocarbons from the essential oil of Mentha piperita of Bulgarian origin

R. Vlahov, M. Holub, I. Ognjanov, V. Herout

Institute of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry

21-Mar-2013

doi:	10.1135/CCCC19670808

A Study on Mongolian Mints. A New Chemotype fromMentha asiaticaBorriss and Constituents ofM. arvensisL. andM. piperitaL.

Den'ei Karasawa, Sanduin Shatar, Ayurzaniyn Erdenechimeg, Yuuki Okamoto, Hideki Tateba, Sumio Shimizu

Informa UK Limited

24-Apr-2012

doi:	10.1080/10412905.1995.9698515

Glycosidically Bound Volatiles in Peppermint (Mentha piperitaL.)

Michael Stengele, Elisabeth Stahl-Biskup

Informa UK Limited

24-Apr-2012

doi:	10.1080/10412905.1993.9698164

Pyridine derivatives in peppermint oil.

Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Katsuhiro TAKAHASHI, Toshio YOSHIDA

Oxford University Press (OUP)

13-Jul-2011

doi:	10.1271/BBB1961.47.2307

The effect of two harvests per year on the yield and composition of Tasmanian peppermint oil (Mentha piperita L.)

Robert J. Clark, Robert C. Menary

Wiley

31-Oct-2006

doi:	10.1002/JSFA.2740351109

Biochemical activities of Iranian Mentha piperita L. and Myrtus communis L. essential oils.

Yadegarinia D, Gachkar L, Rezaei MB, Taghizadeh M, Astaneh SA, Rasooli I

Phytochemistry

01-Jun-2006

doi:	10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.04.025
PMID:	16777154

Peppermint Oil Yield and Composition from Mini and Industrial Distilleries

Alan R. Mitchell, Fred J. Crowe

Informa UK Limited

14-Dec-2005

doi:	10.1300/J044V04N01_10

Luteolin: A Strong Antimutagen against Dietary Carcinogen, Trp-P-2, in Peppermint, Sage, and Thyme

Kazuyasu Samejima, Kazuki Kanazawa, Hitoshi Ashida, Gen-ichi Danno

American Chemical Society (ACS)

10-Mar-2005

doi:	10.1021/JF00050A029

Analysis and Distribution of Flavonoid Glycosides and Rosmarinic Acid in 40 Mentha x piperita Clones

Didier J. Guedon, Bernard P. Pasquier

American Chemical Society (ACS)

10-Mar-2005

doi:	10.1021/JF00039A015

Conversion of menthyl acetate or neomenthyl acetate into menthol or neomenthol by cell suspension cultures of Mentha canadensis and Mentha piperita

Ute. Werrmann, Dietrich. Knorr

American Chemical Society (ACS)

10-Mar-2005

doi:	10.1021/JF00027A032

Flavones ofMentha piperita of the varieties Prilukskaya 6 and Kubanskaya 6

O. I. Zakharova, A. M. Zakharov, L. P. Smirnova, V. M. Kovineva