Peppermint, or Mentha piperita, was first cultivated for medical use in eighteenth-century England. It has been used as a fragrance, food source, and medicine for thousands of years. Peppermint essence, made by mixing peppermint oil with alcohol, was first manufactured in the London suburb of Mitcham, where hybrid peppermint plants were first commercially cultivated around 1750. In Greek mythology, peppermint is seen as "the herb of hospitality". It was considered a sexual stimulant by the Greeks, and its use was forbidden to soldiers. In Arab harems, it was considered a sacred plant. Peppermint is perhaps the most well-known of the minty smells, along with spearmint and wintergreen. Its scientific name is Mentha piperita, sometimes also known as Mentha balsamea. Peppermint is a cross between water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata).
Natural or Synthetic?
Peppermint essential oil, extracted from Mentha piperita, is known for its crisp and cooling scent and is obtained through steam distillation. While the natural oil is more commonly used, synthetic versions, including synthesized menthol, are also employed depending on market availability and the cost of the essential oil.
Fragrance Families Peppermint Most Commonly Found In
Show fragrances that contain Peppermint as a note