PEPPERMINT

Peppermint has a crisp, unmistakably minty scent with a strong menthol character and a gently sweet edge. Its cool-smelling freshness can cut through a denser composition or give an aromatic fragrance a clearer outline. Givaudan also identifies a milky facet in its peppermint oil, showing that the material can have a softer side beneath the bright mint. Peppermint and spearmint have different aromatic balances rather than being interchangeable names.

The plant, Mentha × piperita, is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint. Its essential oil is obtained by steam-distilling leafy flowering material; menthol is a key contributor to the familiar character. Cultivar and processing affect the resulting oil. In perfume, the note can create contrast with warmer or muskier elements without making every composition smell like confectionery. A note listing describes the olfactory effect and does not establish a physical cooling or therapeutic benefit.