MENTHA ARVENSIS LEAF OIL
Mentha arvensis leaf oil is the volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Mentha arvensis L., a mint species in the Lamiaceae family. On an ingredient list, the term points to the leaf oil rather than ground leaves or a water-based plant extract.
MENTHA ARVENSIS LEAF OIL: what it is
Mentha arvensis leaf oil is the volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Mentha arvensis L., a mint species in the Lamiaceae family. On an ingredient list, the term points to the leaf oil rather than ground leaves or a water-based plant extract.
It is an aromatic mixture, not isolated menthol. Research on M. arvensis describes monoterpenoids as major components of its essential oils, produced and stored in the plant's glandular structures; menthol is only one of those components. The oil name therefore should not be read as another name for pure menthol.
MENTHA ARVENSIS LEAF OIL: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, Mentha arvensis leaf oil is used as a fragrance. In everyday terms, it helps shape a product's scent and can lend a mint-associated note to items such as soaps, shampoos, and other perfumed products. That is a sensory contribution to aroma, not a claim that the ingredient treats skin or hair.
One study of M. arvensis leaves examined how methyl jasmonate changes monoterpenoid production in the plant itself. It did not evaluate a cosmetic used by people or test the isolated oil on skin, so its results help explain the origin of aromatic compounds but do not establish benefits for acne, wrinkles, dark spots, or other skin conditions.
Products containing this ingredient
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