Use
Peppermint oil is produced by steam distillation of the flowering herb Mentha
x piperita L. It is an almost colorless to pale greenish-yellow liquid with
a characteristic peppermint odor.
US oils: d2020 0.899–0.911; n20D 1.4590–1.4650; α20D ?32 ° to ?18 °; solubility: 1 vol in max. 3 vol of 70% ethanol at 20℃.
Oils of other origin, for example, from China and India: d2020 0.898–0.918; n20D 1.4590–1.4650; α20D ?30 ° to ?14 °; solubility: 1 vol in max. 5 vol of 70% ethanol at 20℃.
As in cornmint oil, the main component of peppermint oil is (?)-menthol
(36–46%)/(32–49%); it also contains (?)-menthone (15–25%)/(13–28%)
and (?)-menthyl acetate (3–6.5%)/(2–8%). However, peppermint oil,
unlike cornmint oil, has a higher content of (+)-menthofuran (1.5–6%)/(1–8%); data for the US oils and oils of other origin, for example, China, India.