Profile: Green Mint Essential Oil.
Commonly known as: Menthe Spicata Herb/Leaf Oil (I.N.C.I.), Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil(I.N.C.I.), Moroccan Mint, Sweet Mint, Spearmint, Spiked Mint, Curly Mint.
Botanical name: Mentha spicata L. / Mentha viridis L.
Extraction process: Steam distillation of green mint leaves sourced from organic farming.
Family: Lamiaceae.
Extracted part of the plant: Aerial parts (leaves and flowering tops).
Cultivation area, origin: Temperate Western Asia (Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus) and Southeast Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy).
Blooming: From July to September/October.
Origin, provenance: India, China.
Phytochemical composition: Carvone, camphene, pinene, D-limonene, pulegone, linalool, 1,8-cineole, citrals (neral + geranial), eugenol, cis-dihydrocarvone, beta-bourbonene, trans-thuyanol-4, cis-jasmone, trans-dihydrocarvyl acetate, viridiflorol, menthone, caryophyllene, germacrene, terpinen-4-ol.
Sensory properties: Appearance: Clear, mobile liquid; Colour: Colourless to greenish-yellow; Scent: Fresh impression, reminiscent of the scent of a leaf.
Physical properties: Density: 0.920 - 0.940 g/cm3; pH: Not applicable, non-aqueous product; Soluble in alcohol; Insoluble in water; Refractive index: 1.480 - 1.495.
Concerns: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, regenerative, soothing, refreshing, fragrant.
Effect: All skin types but particularly for skins showing cutaneous marks.
Details
Applications
Facial Care (moisturising creams, cleansing gels, after-shave treatments, lotions, care oils);
Body Care (solid soaps, body firming gels, shower gels, foot care);
Hair Care (shampoos);
Hygiene (deodorants, toothpastes).
Method of Preservation
Store in a place protected from air, light, and at a stable and moderate temperature.
Contraindications, Usage Precautions
It is not recommended for babies, children, epileptic individuals, and pregnant or breastfeeding women, as green mint essential oil contains significant amounts of carvone (ketone). This molecule is potentially neurotoxic and abortifacient at high doses. Thus, the IFRA 49th Amendment states that this essential oil can be used safely up to a concentration of 0.24% for rinse-off products due to the presence of carvone.
Other compounds found in spearmint essential oil may pose a risk of allergy in certain sensitive individuals, such as D-limonene and, to a lesser extent, linalool, when incorporated into a cosmetic composition (according to the 7th Amendment of the European Directive on cosmetic products (2003/15/EC)).
When applied topically, the essential oil of spearmint can be irritating ; hence, it is always necessary to dilute it well before any use (up to a maximum of 30%). As a precaution, always perform a skin test in the crook of your elbow 48 hours before using it.