Peppermint essential oils types and sources
Essential oil of Mentha piperita

Uplifting, mood enhancing, awakening, exciting and generally "happy", Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) can give amazing results when sourced through reputable suppliers that avoid synthetic blends and dilutions.

The main constituent in the essential oil of Peppermint, menthol, can also be extracted (synthetised) from cheaper plant materials. Often, reconstituted peppermint oils are sold as "essential oil of Mentha x piperita"; however they lack the depth and wholesome characteristics of the naturally extracted, steam distilled essential oil. Corruption and cheaper replicas are not a recent problem; according to King's American Dispensatory,

Adulterations of the oil with alcohol and oil of turpentine are not infrequent; the latter may be known by the turpentine odor, by the imperfect solution it forms with alcohol, and by its fulmination when iodine is added to it; the former may be known by the formation of a dirty-white liquid when an equal volume of water is added to it. Sometimes adulteration is practiced by removing part of the menthol by freezing. (1)

Peppermint essential oil is widely employed in traditional remedies and finds extensive uses in aromatherapy. It is often vaporized or added to ointments and pomades to ease the pain from headache and migraine, decongest inflamed sinuses, give relief to aching joints and muscles, alleviate symptoms of asthma and bronchitis, or stimulate the lymph system. One drop of essential oil on a lump of sugar can aid digestion; peppermint-scented vapours have the power to stimulate the brain, help concentration and eradicate mental fatigue.

Peppermint Essential Oil has powerful qualities and can give antithetical results depending on amount used. In low concentrations, peppermint has a cooling, refreshing effect. In higher dilutions, it is warming and can easily become an irritant. In skin care, peppermint essential oil would easily "burn" sensitive skin and delicate areas, and must therefore always be used in very small concentrations (0.5% or less).

The United States, England, India, Germany and Italy used to be the world's largest producers of peppermint essential oil. These days, their production is dwarfed by China's and India's, where however quality control remains an issue. Of course, inferior types of Peppermint essential oil lack the completeness and purity of a quality steam distilled oil, which has not undergone any chemical modifications.

Back to essential oil blending suggestions - Lavender, Orange (Five Fold), Rosemary Essential Oil

(1) King's American Dispensatory, Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D.; John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D.; 1898. Scanned version available online at Henriette's Herbal Homepage, under Henriette Kress's own copyright.

Australian essential oils, soap making supplies, natural soap base, skin care ingredients and bases
are distributed in the US by Anne Lee's.

Australian essential oils
NSW, Australia
About this site
Contact details

Enhance your Internet experience with Firefox. Download your free copy of the Firefox browser with Google toolbar by clicking the link above.

last updated 16 mar 2007

Peppermint essential oils types and sources Essential oil of Mentha piperita

Peppermint essential oils types and sources
Essential oil of Mentha piperita