menthol
n.a substance that comes from mint plants and gives a cool, fresh feeling when you touch it. You often find it in cough drops, toothpaste, and some types of cigarettes.
n.a cyclic monoterpene ketone derived from mint oils, characterized by a cooling and numbing effect on the skin and mucous membranes. Often used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics for its analgesic and decongestant properties.
“The menthol in the cough drops helps clear my throat.”
“Many people prefer menthol cigarettes because the cooling effect makes the smoke feel less harsh on their throat.”
“The cooling sensation of menthol is actually a chemical irritation of the cold-sensitive nerve endings, which the brain interprets as a drop in temperature.”
“Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in 2022, nearly 250,000 public comments flooded in—a record response that led the Biden administration to delay a final decision.”
“Although medicines are commonly used to treat it, it's not always clear how well they work in the long-term, and they can cause unwanted side effects." Peppermint naturally contains compounds including menthol and flavonoids.”
From Latin mentha (“mint”) + -ol.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.