Sure it may remind you of Christmas and candy canes, but peppermint essential oils shouldn’t be limited to holiday-themed projects. Bramble Berry carries two types of peppermint essential oils, and while their differences are subtle, they can be important! Read on to learn more about both kinds of peppermint essential oil and how you can use them in a wide variety of projects.
Bramble Berry carries two types of peppermint essential oil: 1st Distillation and 2nd Distillation. Oils that have multiple distillations are often referred to as ‘redisilled’ or ‘rectified’. Distillation refers to the method of extracting the essential from the plant. During distillation, the oil is separated through vaporization and condensation. As their names suggest, one oil is distilled only once, while the other oil goes through the process twice, making for a sharper, more traditional mint scent.
The difference is in the smell. Whereas the 1st Distillation smells sweet like a candy cane, the 2nd Distillation smells more minty fresh, like peppermint gum. Both essential oils are grown locally in the northwest — Peppermint 1st Distilled is grown in our own Yakima, Wash., while the 2nd Distilled is from Idaho.
Both peppermint essential oils contain a high amount of menthol which causes a slight cooling sensation, making them a great option for wash off products such as soaps, shower gels and bath fizzies. The slight cooling sensation can be irritating in sensitive regions of the body, including the eye area and mucus membranes.
As part of our Happy Feet week, Peppermint 1st Distilled is 35% off with the coupon code ‘PRETTYPAWS.’ Because the menthol in peppermint essential oils causes a pleasant cooling sensation, it’s great for spa products (but please, nothing that goes near the eyes). Try it in the Cranberry Seed Foot Scrub, Rose Clay Foot Mask or the Invigorating Foot Soak.
Traditionally, peppermint has been used in blends to soothe sore muscles (thanks menthol!), and peppermint oil vapor is sometimes inhaled to treat symptoms of colds and coughs. To read more about peppermint and its possible therapeutic effects, take a look at this article from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Both types of Peppermint Essential Oil hold up remarkably well in cold process and melt and pour soap. Take a look at a few of our favorite projects below:
Left: Butterfly Swirl Cold Process
Top: Frog Foot Swirl Cold Process
Bottom: Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf
Peppermint Essential Oils are also great for blending. Use them if you’re looking to add interest to sweet or fruity scents. Take a look at some combinations we’ve experimented with below!
Peppermint Essential Oil Blends
Pineapple Cilantro Fragrance Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distilled
Sweet Meyer Lemon Fragrance Oil, Rosemary Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, 1st Distilled
Dark Rich Chocolate Fragrance Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil, 1st Distilled
Ginger Lime Fragrance Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distilled
Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distilled and Lychee Red Tea
Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distilled and Cedarwood Essential Oil
What kinds of projects have you used Peppermint Essential Oil in? Or, do you have a favorite blend to share?
How about buying menthol in crystal form and dissolve it to put into the soap? Have you guys done that?
Hi Janine!
We haven’t given that a try. My worry is that the menthol crystals aren’t skin safe and may be irritating on the skin. I would recommend contacting the manufacturer to make sure the crystals are safe for use in cosmetics and soap. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
That’s so funny! I was just saying my bubble bars left me feeling a bit chilly. I used the peppermint eo marshmallow blend. Now I know why. Is there just a peppermint scent? It wasn’t a pleasant experience. But smells amazing! Haha! We have our hot water heater set on low so the tub fills about half full. The rest of me was freezing! Haha! Sincerely,Kristie
It can definitely feel a bit unpleasant, that’s for sure! I think all of us in the office have tried it at least once. 🙂
As for a mint fragrance, I think you’ll love our Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil! It’s an awesome blend of peppermint, spearmint and corn mint, and won’t cause that cooling effect.
Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Moroccan-Mint-Fragrance-Oil-P3925.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’ve never blended essential oils before, only used FO’s. But I want to make a Rosemary and Peppermint essential oil blend for my shampoo. Do I just mix the essential oils together or do I have to use a carrier oil as well? ( I am adding camellia seed oil to my shampoo base as well, so if I need a carrier would that work?)
Do you have amounts you would recommend for a 16oz bottle of shampoo?
Thanks so much for your help! I love your site!
Priya
Hi Priya!
Oh that sounds like a lovely blend! It will smell fresh and herby. 🙂
You can add those essential oils straight to your shampoo! They don’t need to be mixed with a carrier oil. That makes it nice and easy.
Also, you can use our Fragrance Calculator to find out exactly how much to add to your batch: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/use-fragrance-calculator/
The suggested essential oil will be the total amount you can add to your recipe. For instance, you can add up to .5 ounces of Rosemary Essential Oil to 16 ounces of shampoo for a strong scent. However, because you’re also adding peppermint, you’ll want your mixture to add up to .5 ounces. For example, .1 ounce of peppermint and .4 ounces of rosemary. 🙂
Learn more about scent blending in this post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/fragrance-oil-blending-tips/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Rosemary Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rosemary-Essential-Oil-P3817.aspx
Peppermint Essential Oil, 1st Distill: https://www.brambleberry.com/Peppermint-Essential-Oil-1st-Distill-P3828.aspx
I’ve only ever used fragrance oils in my cold process soap, but I got some peppermint eo to try a batch. It seems very strong. Do I use it in the same amounts as a fragrance oil in my 2-pound batches?
Hi Lori!
Peppermint Essential Oil can cause a cooling effect if too much is used in your soap. We recommend starting out with .44 oz. of essential oil per pound of soap. If you want your soap to smell a little stronger, you can add more. I found out that amount using our handy dandy Fragrance Calculator. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Fragrance Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator-Results.aspx
I want to try making peppermint lip balm with essential oil, but not sure how much to add to my lip balm for it to be a safe amount?
Hi Vontella!
Some essential oils can be used in lip balm, and others cannot. The good news is Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill can be used!
You’ll want to use .5-2% of the essential oil in your recipe.
For example, if your recipe was 4 oz., this works out to be .08 oz. of essential oil (at a huge 2% usage rate) for the entire container of balm. It’s such a small amount and some scales can’t be that exact, so use a dropper and measure in milliliters. In this case, .08 oz. is roughly equivalent to 2.3 milliliters. Keep in mind, that is the usage rate for an entire 4 oz. container of lip balm!
Because peppermint can have a cooling effect, you may want to use a smaller amount. Making a small test batch may help you find out the right amount for you. 🙂
Sunday Night Spotlight: Flavoring Oils: http://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotlight-flavoring-oils/
Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill: https://www.brambleberry.com/Peppermint-Essential-Oil-2nd-Distill-P3832.aspx
I have used both of these but the 2nd distill is my fav because of its sweetness. I love using it in lip balm!
Hi Jennifer!
I’m glad that you have found a peppermint scent that you like! Peppermint lip balm is so refreshing 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Second distillation smells like a candy cane
Hi Lisa!
The 1st distillation of Peppermint EO is a little bit sweeter, while the second is more of a true peppermint scent 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
On your product description it says that 2nd Distill smells more like Candy Canes. Here you are saying that 1st distill smells more like Candy Canes.
Which is correct?
Thank you.
Hi Sly!
The 1st distillation is a little bit sweeter, and some people feel this smells like candy cane :). The 2nd distillation is a little bit more of a true peppermint.
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
I see that you changed the BB web to reflect this… I wonder how long it has said that the 2nd distill smelled like candy cane?
I have been using 2nd distill for a couple years when I wanted the candy cane scent, but never really got that scent…I guess I should have realized it was incorrect and tried the 1st distill for candy cane! Too bad it was written wrong for so long. 😉
In your peppermint blend with rosemary and sweet Mayer , are they all equal parts?
Hi Candy!
For these blend suggestions, you could use any ratio you’d like, depending on your personal preference :). Equal parts lemon and peppermint would smell great!
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
I agree. I use peppermint all the time in CP and MP and it’s fine. I love a peppermint vanilla blend. Recently I made some jelly soap for the kids that was peppermint and chocolate – like the old After Eight chocolate mints – and they love it. And yes, one of the great things about peppermint is a little goes a long way.
Hi Cutter!
Oh I bet vanilla and peppermint smells amazing! Peppermint and chocolate is such a great blend, it always reminds me of holiday candies 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
I am curious to know if in your experience does peppermint eo go rancid faster than other essential oils? I have made 2 types of cp soap, super fatted 7% like I always do and the scent begins to smell off and stale. The color doesn’t stay as bright. Peppermint is the only eo I can’t make well ahead of time because it changes. Am I the only one? Thanks:)
I can only say that mine has turned out great. I superfat at 5% and have had lovely white bars of soap and the peppermint has really held up great. In fact I use less peppermint oil than usual because it is so potent.
Perhaps one of the other oils you are using has a short shelf life and is going rancid????
Hi Shannon!
Like Lorna suggested, I wonder if some of your other oils have possibly gone bad? We have always had good luck with peppermint essential oil. I would be happy to help you troubleshoot further if you’d like 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
I made a batch of cold process soap using peppermint essential oil and a smattering of poppy seeds, no coloring. It is absolutely wonderful and refreshing. I use it as a shower bar and it’s one of my most favorite soaps ever. It can bother very sensitive skin but, it just zings and tingles and leaves me feel refreshed. It’s especially nice in the warmer weather too. I also made the shower fizzies from a previous Soap Queen tutorial and they are great when you are stuffed up and need some aromatherapy.
Hi Michael!
That sounds like an awesome bar of soap! I love peppermint soap as well, it really is so refreshing 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry