What it is
In the register’s words: “Menthol / DL-menthol / L-menthol.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- MENTHOL
- CAS number
- 1490-04-6 / 2216-51-5 / 89-78-1 / 15356-70-4
- EC number
- 216-074-4 / 218-690-9 / 201-939-0 / 239-388-3
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Menthol in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Fragrance
-
Gives the product its smell or covers an unpleasant one. A label may name each scent ingredient or group them as Fragrance (Parfum).
Register definition: “Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.”
- Denaturant
-
Makes alcohol taste too bad to drink. It is why labels say Alcohol Denat.
Register definition: “Rendering cosmetics unpalatable. Mostly added to cosmetics containing ethyl alcohol to make it unsuitable for ingestion.”
- Refreshing
-
Gives a fresh, cool feel on the skin. Menthol and mint oils carry this role.
Register definition: “Imparting a pleasant freshness to the skin.”
- Soothing
-
Eases discomfort of the skin or scalp. It describes the feel, not a treatment.
Register definition: “Lightening discomfort of the skin or of the scalp.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Hair oils 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Hair oils without it
Every label, product by product (7)
- OLAPLEX Nº.4CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo Shampoo 26th of 62 names
- DevaCurl No-Poo Original Shampoo 15th of 22 names
- OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo Shampoo 76th of 78 names
- Cécred Detoxifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 9th of 38 names
- OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 53rd of 55 names
- OLAPLEX No.5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 64th of 66 names
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil Hair oil 7th of 32 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other fragrance ingredients on these labels
- Fragrance (Parfum) 133 labels
- Potassium Sorbate 61 labels
- Sodium Benzoate 61 labels
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil 32 labels
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride 26 labels
- Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil 26 labels
- Sodium Chloride 26 labels
- Benzoic Acid 25 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.