Pure Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint, and the oil is steam distilled from the leaves. What sets it apart from every other oil on this site is menthol, which makes up roughly a third to a half of the bottle depending on the crop. 

Menthol does something unusual. It triggers the cold receptors in your skin without actually lowering the temperature, so a diluted blend feels genuinely cold on contact. That's why peppermint turns up in foot balms, muscle rubs and summer body products. 

The same compound is the reason peppermint needs more care than a lavender or a citrus. The cooling sensation can tip into burning on thin or sensitive skin, and a drop in the wrong place is memorable for the wrong reasons. Diluted properly it's one of the most enjoyable oils in the range. 

The scent is bracing and clean, which makes it a morning oil rather than an evening one. Plenty of people run it in a study or a home office, and it's one of the few oils where a single drop is genuinely enough to change a room.

In general, peppermint essential oil is refreshing and invigorating. Whether it is to boost your mental focus, relieve a pounding headache, or ease tight, sore muscles, peppermint aromatherapy oil is always the answer. When you diffuse peppermint oil, it fills your space with a naturally fresh, clean scent that helps reduce stress and ease fatigue. Known for its refreshing aroma, pure peppermint oil also supports digestive health and can naturally relieve nausea.

• Diffuser: 2 to 3 drops per 100 ml of water. Peppermint is strong and travels fast. It pairs well with lemon, rosemary and eucalyptus in the morning. 
• Foot soak: 2 drops stirred into a tablespoon of carrier oil, then added to a bowl of warm water. This is the classic peppermint use and the one most people come back for, especially in summer. 
• Body and massage oil: 6 to 12 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil, a 1 to 2% dilution. Good after a long walk or a gym session, blended with eucalyptus or rosemary. 
• Soap and candle making: peppermint holds its scent well and is a staple of cold-process soap, often with eucalyptus or tea tree. 
• Shower steamer: a couple of drops on the shower floor, away from the direct stream. 
• Not in the bath as neat drops. Undiluted peppermint floating on bathwater concentrates against skin and can sting badly, particularly on sensitive areas. Stir it into a carrier oil first, or use it in a foot soak instead. 
• Not for facial use, and keep it well away from the eye area. The vapour alone can make eyes sting. 
• Blending: lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree and cedarwood.

• Product name: Pure Peppermint Essential Oil 
• Botanical name: Mentha piperita 
• Part used: leaves 
• Extraction method: steam distillation 
• Aroma: sharp, sweet and green, with a strong cooling character 
• Common uses: diffuser blends, foot soaks, massage blends, soap and candle making 
• Size: 10 ml 
• Shelf life: up to 3 years when stored cool and dark 

1. For external use only. Do not swallow. 
2. Never apply it neat, whatever you may read elsewhere. Dilute to 1 to 2%, which is 6 to 12 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil, or 1 to 2 drops per teaspoon. Undiluted peppermint can burn. 
3. Patch test first. Apply a small amount of the diluted blend to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours. 
4. Keep it away from the face, eyes and nose. Even the vapour makes eyes sting, and menthol near the face causes problems in ways the scent doesn't warn you about. 
5. Never use peppermint on or near a baby or young child, and don't apply it to the face or chest of a child of any age. Menthol can cause breathing difficulty in small children. Don't use it at all under 6, and ask a doctor or pharmacist for older children. 
6. Store it up high and out of sight of children. If any is swallowed, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away, or 000 in an emergency. 
7. Don't add neat drops to a bath. Peppermint doesn't mix with water and can concentrate against skin, including sensitive areas. Stir it into a carrier oil first. 
8. If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, epilepsy or G6PD deficiency, or you're taking any medication, check with your doctor before using it. 
9. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless your healthcare professional has said otherwise. 
10. Peppermint is bracing rather than relaxing, so most people prefer it earlier in the day. 
11. Peppermint is toxic to cats and dogs. Never apply it to an animal, keep it out of reach, and ask your vet before diffusing where pets spend time. 
12. Store tightly capped somewhere cool and dark, away from heat and open flames.