L-Menthyl Lactate
L-Menthyl Lactate is the lactic acid ester of l-menthol, formula C13H24O3 and CAS number 59259-38-0, one of the principal physiological cooling agents used where a cooling sensation is wanted without the aroma and bite of menthol itself. Esterifying the menthol hydroxyl removes most of the minty odour and the pungency while retaining activity at the cold receptor TRPM8, so the material reads as a clean, mild, long lasting cool rather than as a mint flavour.
It reaches the trade as a white crystalline solid or a colourless viscous liquid, depending on isomer composition and temperature, with the crystalline form melting in the region of 43 degrees Celsius. It is practically insoluble in water and freely soluble in ethanol, propylene glycol and edible oils, so it is normally introduced through a solvent, an emulsion or a molten fat phase. The onset of the cooling effect is slower than that of menthol and the duration considerably longer, which is why it is usually combined with menthol or a faster cooling agent rather than used alone. As an ester it will hydrolyse slowly in strongly acidic or alkaline systems.
We source bulk L-Menthyl Lactate from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Guangdong. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
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- Function
- Flavours and Aromas
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline solid or colourless viscous liquid |
| Odour | Faint characteristic, essentially free of mint aroma |
| Assay by Gas Chromatography | Not less than 98.0 percent |
| Identification | Infrared spectrum conforms to reference |
| Melting Range | 41 to 45 degrees Celsius for the crystalline grade |
| Optical Rotation at 20 degrees Celsius | Minus 74 to minus 82 degrees |
| Free Menthol | Not more than 1.0 percent |
| Acid Value | Not more than 1.0 mg KOH per gram |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in ethanol, practically insoluble in water |
| Loss on Drying | Not more than 0.5 percent |
| Residue on Ignition | Not more than 0.05 percent |
| Heavy Metals as Pb | Not more than 10 mg per kg |
| Lead | Not more than 1.0 mg per kg |
| Arsenic | Not more than 1.0 mg per kg |
Common Markets Grades
The material is traded principally as a single article, l-menthyl lactate at 98 percent minimum assay, with optical rotation as the primary check that the menthol used was the levorotatory isomer, since only l-menthol gives the full cooling response. Grades differ chiefly in the lactic acid isomer used, with the L form giving the crystalline product and racemic lactic acid giving a lower melting material that is easier to handle as a liquid.
Beyond that the split is by intended use rather than by purity. Food grade material conforms to a Food Chemicals Codex style monograph and carries the FEMA GRAS listing; cosmetic and oral care grades of the same assay are documented against different specifications. Solutions at 10 to 50 percent in propylene glycol, triacetin or ethanol are stocked so that the solid does not have to be melted or dissolved on the production line, and encapsulated grades are offered for chewing gum and confectionery where a delayed release is wanted. Kosher, halal and non GMO documentation is routinely available.
Applications
- Chewing gum, where the long cooling tail extends the perceived freshness of the chew
- Mints and confectionery, combined with menthol to shape onset against duration
- Toothpaste and mouthwash, giving cooling without adding mint aroma
- Beverages with a cooling claim, dosed through an emulsion or solvent system
- Chocolate and compound coatings, dissolved into the fat phase
- Lip care and cosmetic sticks, where the mild profile suits sensitive tissue
- Antiperspirants, shaving preparations and after sun products
- Shampoo and scalp care formulations with a fresh claim
- Pharmaceutical lozenges and topical analgesic preparations
- Tobacco and vapour products as a low odour cooling material
Brands Using L-Menthyl Lactate
Widely-distributed consumer products that list L-Menthyl Lactate on the ingredient label.
- Harry'sExfoliating Facial Cleanser ↗Menthyl lactate appears in the ingredient list next to peppermint oil and menthol, supplying the wash's cooling effect.Label verified 2026-08-31
- Dr. SquatchFresh Falls Exfoliating Face Wash ↗Menthyl lactate is listed among the ingredients of this face wash, after sodium gluconate and before sodium benzoate.Label verified 2026-08-31
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of L-Menthyl Lactate
Top L-Menthyl Lactate manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
Regulatory Status
In the United States l-menthyl lactate carries FEMA GRAS number 3748 and is recognised as a synthetic flavouring substance permitted for use in food under 21 CFR 172.515. Food grade material is normally specified against a Food Chemicals Codex style monograph covering assay, melting range, optical rotation, acid value and heavy metals. Its use in oral care and topical products falls under the separate cosmetic and over the counter drug frameworks.
In the European Union it appears in the Union list of authorised flavouring substances maintained under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, which permits it for general flavouring use subject to good manufacturing practice and identifies it by an FL number within the alicyclic ester group. The Council of Europe has listed it in its flavouring inventory. JECFA has evaluated it within the group of alicyclic primary alcohols, aldehydes, acids and related esters and published a specification. Use in cosmetics is governed separately by the cosmetic products regulation.
Manufacturing Process
Production is a direct esterification of l-menthol with lactic acid. Both feedstocks are established articles of commerce: l-menthol is obtained either by crystallisation from natural mint oil or, in the larger part of world supply, by synthesis through the hydrogenation of l-isopulegol, while lactic acid is produced by bacterial fermentation of a glucose or sucrose substrate followed by purification.
The two are charged to a stirred reactor with an acid catalyst, most often a sulphonic acid or an acidic ion exchange resin, and heated under reduced pressure or with an entrainer so that the water of esterification is removed continuously and the equilibrium is pulled towards the ester. Enzymatic esterification with an immobilised lipase is used where a natural declaration is sought, since it avoids a chemical catalyst. The crude ester is neutralised and washed to remove catalyst and unreacted lactic acid, then purified by fractional distillation under high vacuum. The distilled product is crystallised from a hydrocarbon or alcohol solvent where a solid is required, centrifuged, washed and dried under vacuum below the melting point, then milled or flaked to the specified particle size and packed in lined fibre drums.
