Mentha piperita flowering herb, steam distilled, from India. Mentha × piperita is a hybrid species of #mint, a cross between #watermint and #spearmint. Indigenous to #Europe and the #MiddleEast, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world.

Aroma: Minty, reminiscent of peppermint candies, but more concentrated. Peppermint has a sharp, penetrating mint scent based on its high menthol content. The sweetness of the vapour makes it easy to see why it is such a common flavouring and scenting agent.More fragrant than spearmint.

History: Peppermint oil is one of the world's oldest medicinal herbs with documented use in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Peppermint and its name has its roots in Greek mythology. Pluto - god of the dead - fell in love with Minthe, herself a beautiful nymph. Pluto's goddess wife Persephone became jealous and turned Minthe into a plant, but out of respect for her beauty, she ensured that she would have a wonderful and fragrant aroma.

Colour: Clear with a Yellow Tinge

Consistency: Thin

Perfumery Note: Top

Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong

Common Uses: Peppermint Supreme is widely credited with being a digestive aid. Peppermint leaves contain menthol, which is a proven aid to digestion. The familiar aroma of Mentha piperita is known for both its warming and cooling properties. Friendly to the sinuses, peppermint is also useful to the muscular system, especially for women during monthly cycles or menopause. Peppermint is commonly known from peppermint tea, chewing gum or candy, but the Essential Oil is much more strong and concentrated and should be used in moderation. Very fresh and clean smelling. Refreshing, mental stimulant, energizing, used to enhance well-being of digestive and respiratory system. Relieves bad breath. Good nerve tonic that helps with mental fatigue and nervous stress.

Possible Uses: Asthma, colic, exhaustion, fever, flatulence, headache, nausea, scabies, sinusitis, vertigo. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 59-67.]

Constituents: Menthyl Acetate, Menthone, Cineole, Limonene, Phellandrene, Pinene, Beta-Caryophyllene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]

Cautions: No known toxicity. Use well diluted since high concentration can cause a burning sensation and sensitation.

Safety Information: Avoid in cardiac fibrillation, epilepsy, fever. Mucous membrane irritant and neurotoxic (toxic to the nerves). Some of this information applies to oral use, but is provided for informational purposes (no essential oil should be taken internally without the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner). [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 160.]

May cause sensitization. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 175.]