Menthol Crystals
Menthol Crystals are the solid, large-format crystalline presentation of L-menthol used in pharmaceutical, oral care, and personal care manufacture where slow dissolution, low dust, and visible crystal quality are required.
The material is L-menthol (C₁₀H₂₀O, molar mass 156.27 g/mol) presented as colourless to white prismatic, needle, or block crystals with a strong characteristic peppermint aroma. Crystal size typically ranges from 3 millimeter prills up to 15 to 20 millimeter chunks depending on the supplier and intended application.
We source bulk Menthol Crystals from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Anhui. For this ingredient the minimum order is 500 kg and a 20-foot container takes 9 MT, and a smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Minimum order
- 500 kg
- Qty in 20' FCL
- 9 MT
- Packaging
- 25 kg galvanised drum, nitrogen blanketed
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colorless transparent crystals |
| Odor | Strong, characteristic peppermint |
| Purity | ≥99.5% |
| Melting Point | 41–44°C |
| Optical Rotation [α]D20 | -49° to -50° |
| Residue on Evaporation | ≤0.05% |
| Non-volatile Residue | ≤0.02% |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤10 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤2 mg/kg |
| Shelf Life | 36 months |
Common Markets Grades
Menthol Crystals come in a small number of well-defined pharmaceutical and food grades.
USP grade L-menthol crystals meet the United States Pharmacopeia monograph for melting range (42 to 44 degrees Celsius), optical rotation (-49 to -51 degrees), residue on ignition, and heavy metals. EP and BP grades follow the corresponding European Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia monographs with similar specifications.
JP grade meets the Japanese Pharmacopoeia monograph, which historically placed slightly tighter limits on optical rotation reflecting the country's preference for high-purity natural-source material.
Both natural-source crystals (recovered from Indian cornmint oil) and synthetic-source crystals (from Symrise thymol hydrogenation or Takasago asymmetric synthesis) qualify against the same pharmacopoeial standards but are typically labelled separately for buyers with source preferences. Halal- and Kosher-certified material is produced from major suppliers.
Applications
- Pharmaceutical lozenges, cough drops, and throat sprays where slow crystal dissolution is desired
- Topical analgesic balms, gels, and patches as the cooling active
- Vapor rub and chest decongestant ointments
- Oral care: toothpaste, mouthwash, and breath freshener manufacture
- Inhalers, nasal sprays, and aromatherapy preparations
- Sports recovery balms and after-workout cooling sprays
- Premium confectionery and mint candy production
- Aromatherapy diffuser blends and steam inhalation products
- Personal care: shampoos, conditioners, and shower gels for cooling positioning
- Itch relief and after-bite preparations
- Specialty chocolate and ice cream manufacture in artisan applications
Brands Using Menthol Crystals
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Menthol Crystals on the ingredient label.
- Mountain Rose HerbsMenthol Crystals Organic ↗Product is 100% menthol crystals derived from Mentha arvensis (cornmint) essential oil; certified organic and kosher.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Frontier Co-opMenthol Crystals 1/2 lb. ↗Product description: 'Menthol, a crystalline alcohol found in peppermint…'; listed as pure menthol crystals with 'No Artificial Ingredients'.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Starwest BotanicalsMenthol Crystals ↗Product page lists menthol crystals (Mentha arvensis) as the sole ingredient; clear cooling flakes derived from natural peppermint oil.Label verified 2026-05-24
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 Menthol Crystals
Top Menthol Crystals 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.
How We Help Source Menthol Crystals
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Menthol Crystals out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Menthol Crystals together with other ingredients such as Capsicum Oleoresin, Ethyl Maltol and White Pepper into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Menthol Crystals meeting the USP, EP, BP, and JP monographs for L-menthol have approval for use across pharmaceutical, food, and personal care applications in essentially all regulated markets.
In the European Union the material qualifies under the same flavouring authorisation as menthol (FL number 02.015 in the Union flavouring list) and under the corresponding European Pharmacopoeia monograph for pharmaceutical use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognises L-menthol as Generally Recognized as Safe under 21 CFR 182.20 for flavour use and as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in over-the-counter monograph products under the topical analgesic, antitussive, and oral health care categories.
JECFA evaluations cover menthol from all sources under the same group acceptance.
Pharmacopoeial monographs in the USP, Ph. Eur., BP, and JP define the standards for pharmaceutical-grade crystal material. Halal and Kosher certification is routinely available from major suppliers.
Manufacturing Process
Menthol Crystals are produced by controlled crystallisation of pure L-menthol from solution or from melt.
Natural-source crystals are recovered from Indian cornmint oil by chilling the dementholized oil fraction to around -10 degrees Celsius, which causes L-menthol to crystallise as large prismatic blocks. The mother liquor is decanted and the crystals are washed and dried under controlled humidity to maintain crystal habit and prevent surface sublimation.
Synthetic-source crystals are produced by melt crystallisation or solvent recrystallisation of L-menthol from the Symrise or Takasago process streams. Melt crystallisation at temperatures just below 42 degrees Celsius yields large translucent crystals suitable for premium presentation, while solvent recrystallisation from ethanol or hexane gives smaller more uniform crystals preferred for direct pharmaceutical handling.
Prilled menthol, a free-flowing rounded particle format, is produced by spray-cooling molten menthol into a chilled gas stream. This format reduces dust generation and improves dosing accuracy in tableting and capsule filling but is typically labelled and sold separately from traditional crystal grades.
