Herbs & Oils: Peppermint

Peppermint & Hades:  

The Greek Connection

One of the many myths surrounding this aromatic herb tells the story of the questionably charming Hades seducing a lovely young nymph named Menthe.  His wife, Persephone (who only actually lived with Hades throughout the fall and winter months, spending the spring and summer months with her Earth Goddess mama, Demeter), understandably was not amused, and turned poor Menthe into a plant that people would constantly walk on.  Well, this ticked Hades off, and he embued Menthe with a lovely fragrance so that whenever peppermint was crushed, the wonderful aroma would remind people of just how beautiful and wonderful Menthe was, before she became a herb.  One can only wonder what Persephone's next move was.

(image by Wioletta Szczepanska)

The Herbal Lowdown

In any case, the lovely peppermint/Menthe has a long and varied history.  The ancient Egyptians used it at least as far back as 1,000 BC and the Romans grew peppermint in their gardens for decorative, digestive, and aromatic purposes.

Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint, and is now grown widely through the world.  Most people think of peppermint when they think of mint - it's a fragrance that evokes memories of holidays and celebration and it is very popular in Middle Eastern culinary recipes. 

According to Mountain Rose Herbs, it is one of the most popular herbs used in teas, candies and chewing gums.  Its refreshing, energizing and stimulating properties are used for a variety of medicinal applications, and in aromatherapy, peppermint is used to increase alertness and stamina.  It has been considered by some to have aphrodisiac qualities.  That last bit said, because of its other properties, it's not usually the aroma of choice to lull one into sleep, after the lovin'.  It's more of a morning wake-me-up fragrance. 

It should be noted that as with all medicines, peppermint oil should be used with discretion.  It can be over-stimulating to sensitive skin and should not be used during pregnancy

Rosemary Mint Goat Milk Soap

Note:  This information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to prescribe, treat, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. 

Know Your Ingredients: Fragrance Oils

How is a fragrance oil different from an essential oil?

In my earlier post, we saw that essential oils are highly concentrated fragranced oils extracted from plant life.  What then, is a fragrance oil and how is it different?  Is one better than the other one?

A fragrance is a chemical compound that has a smell or odor.  Some of the chemicals come from natural scents (i.e., from plants and animals); others are synthetic, and are blended carefully to create the desired fragrance. So, while all essential oils can be considered fragrance oils, the reverse is certainly not the case.

Why would I want to use a synthetic fragrance oil?  Isn't natural always better?  Safer? 

Going all natural and usually only products fragranced with essential oils is a valid choice.  However, it's worth bearing in mind that many lovely fragrances are just not available in essential oil form, or are just cost prohibitive.  For instance, I personally love the smell of sandalwood (and so do my customers), but the cost of the essential oil is simply astronomical.  Some of my most popular fragrances are available only in fragrance oil form (i.e., pumpkin, cranberry, cherry almond, etc.)  The soap below is a blend of lavender fragrance oil and a lovely fragrance oil called "Oatmeal, Milk & Honey".

Lavender Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Is it safe to use a synthetic product on your skin?  

In soapmaking, this is a crucial question.  Fragrances (and the chemicals that make them up) are guided by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), RIFM is a comprehensive resource for safe use and exposure information on fragrance materials found in perfumes, cosmetics, shampoos, creams, detergents, candles, etc.  I have found that it really pays to do your homework here, and I shop for fragrance oils only with respected, time tested vendors.

Some fragrances are perfectly safe to use in candle-making, but are not skin-safe.  If you are shopping for fragrance oils, a reputable vendor will provide this information before you buy.  If you are shopping for products made with fragrance oils, it's perfectly valid to ask about these sources.

For more information on fragrance oils, visit Brambleberry's Soap Queen blog.