Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is the volatile oil distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of Mentha x piperita, dominated by menthol and menthone. It is the standard cooling flavour of confectionery, chewing gum, oral care and pharmaceutical preparations, it carries the mint note in tobacco and beverage work, and it is the source from which natural menthol is crystallised. Cornmint oil, from Mentha arvensis, is a related but distinct article, dementholised after crystallisation and traded on its own terms.
Listed peppermint oil markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Peppermint is traded on species and on the menthol and menthone pair. Piperita and arvensis are separate contracts, and an oil that has had menthol crystallised out of it is declared as such.
Botanical source and extraction route
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mentha x piperita, peppermintLeaf and flowering top, steam distilled | The ISO product standard article. Native American, Midwest and Willamette selections are contracted by type. |
| Mentha arvensis, cornmintLeaf, steam distilled, dementholised | A separate article. It is the world source of natural menthol crystal and its residual oil is traded after crystallisation. |
| Mentha spicata, spearmintLeaf, steam distilled | A carvone oil. It never settles against a menthol contract. |
| DementholisedDeclared, with the residual menthol figure | A processed article. The crystal and the residual oil are contracted separately. |
| Natural menthol crystalDeclared, with the purity and the melting point | A derived article, priced off cornmint oil. |
| Steam distilledDistilled in steam from the named plant part, with the charge and the run time declared | The default route for most essential oils. The cut taken off the still is a contract term, because a first cut and a full run are not the same oil. |
| Rectified or redistilledFractionated after the first distillation to a stated marker content | Named on the contract, because rectification is what most specification oils are made of. |
| Folded or terpenelessTerpenes removed to a stated degree | A processed article, sold on its concentration factor. |
| OrganicCertified under the destination market scheme, distilled and stored on dedicated equipment | Named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Field or plant identityDeclared, with the growing area | Terroir moves the menthofuran and the menthyl acetate, and the flavour houses contract on it. |
| Batch and distillation dateDeclared, with the still and the campaign identified | Essential oils change in the drum. A batch without a date cannot be assessed. |
Physicochemical identity
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Relative density at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 279 | The first identity check, and the fastest way to catch a carrier oil. |
| Refractive index at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 280 | Read on a refractometer at a stated temperature. |
| Optical rotation at 20 degrees CelsiusRange in degrees, by ISO 592 | The term that separates a natural oil from a synthetic reconstruction, because most synthetics are optically inactive. |
| Miscibility in ethanolVolumes of ethanol at a stated strength to give a clear solution, by ISO 875 | Measured, not judged. |
| Acid valueMaximum, by ISO 1242 | Rises with age and with poor storage. It is the ageing indicator the trade reads first. |
| Ester valueRange, by ISO 709 | Sets the sweet fraction in oils where esters carry the odour. |
| Appearance and colourAgainst a sealed reference sample, or an instrumental scale | Recorded on the certificate for each batch. |
| Flash pointDegrees Celsius, closed cup | A transport classification term as well as a quality one. It travels on the dangerous goods declaration. |
Chromatographic profile
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Menthol, freePercentage of total peak area, range | The principal constituent and the source of the cooling effect. |
| MenthonePercentage of total peak area, range | The second defining constituent. The menthol to menthone ratio is the profile the flavour houses buy on. |
| Menthyl acetatePercentage of total peak area, range | Contributes sweetness and rises with crop maturity. |
| MenthofuranPercentage of total peak area, range | A maturity and provenance marker, and a regulated constituent in some end uses. |
| 1,8-cineolePercentage of total peak area, range | Named in the ISO product standard. |
| IsomenthonePercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| LimonenePercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| PulegonePercentage of total peak area, maximum | Restricted in food and cosmetic use in most destination markets, so the ceiling is a contract term. |
| CarvonePercentage of total peak area, maximum | Its presence indicates spearmint entering the lot. |
| Full profile against the reference batchEvery peak accounted for | The trace is the specification. |
Authenticity and adulteration
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Added synthetic mentholNil, declared | The commonest adulteration. Caught on the chiral ratio, because natural menthol is a single optical isomer. |
| Cornmint oil in peppermintNil, declared | Read on the menthol to menthone ratio and on the minor profile together. |
| Full chromatogram against a reference profileEvery peak accounted for, with the reference batch named | The whole trace is the specification, not the two or three headline markers. Adulteration hides in the peaks nobody contracted. |
| Enantiomeric ratio, chiral gas chromatographyRatio of the optical isomers of the named marker compounds | The definitive test for synthetic addition. A nature identical molecule is still the wrong molecule at the isomer level. |
| Stable isotope ratio analysisCarbon and hydrogen isotope ratios, by mass spectrometry | Detects synthetic and non plant carbon sources. Contracted where the value of the oil justifies it. |
| Added carrier and diluentNil, declared | Vegetable oil, dipropylene glycol, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate and ethanol. Tested for, because the density alone will not catch a small addition. |
| Cross species and cross grade blendingNil, declared | Cheaper related species blended into a premium oil. Detected on the full profile. |
| ReconstitutionNil, declared | Oil rebuilt from isolates to hit a marker specification. It will pass a marker test and fail a full profile. |
Contaminants, safety and regulatory
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peroxide valueMaximum | Oxidation is the main quality loss in transit and in store. It is also what turns a benign oil into a sensitiser. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram, against the destination market limits | Distillation concentrates lipophilic residues, so the limit is applied to the oil and not to the crop. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram | Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. |
| Phthalates and plasticisersMilligrams per kilogram | Picked up from drums, liners and hoses rather than from the plant. |
| Residual solventMilligrams per kilogram, where the article is an extract or an absolute | Nil for distilled oils, and a stated limit for extracts. |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsMicrograms per kilogram | Comes from direct fire stills and from smoke contact at origin. |
| Allergen declarationPercentage of each declarable fragrance allergen present | Required for cosmetic use in most destination markets. It is calculated from the chromatogram and it travels with the batch. |
| Safety data sheet and transport classificationIssued for the batch, with the UN number and packing group | A shipping document and a compliance document at once. |
Certification, documentation and packing
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| OrganicCertificate under the destination market scheme | EU, NOP, JAS or an equivalence arrangement, named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Fair trade or community benefit schemeCertificate and transaction certificate | Named scheme, with the transaction certificate issued against the specific batch. |
| Kosher and HalalCertificate from the named authority | Travels with the batch. |
| Cosmetic and food grade documentationSpecification, safety data sheet, allergen statement and IFRA conformity certificate | The document set is part of the goods. An oil delivered without it is not deliverable. |
| Non GMO and vegan declarationsDeclaration | Issued where the destination market or the customer requires it. |
| PackingDeclared: aluminium, epoxy phenolic lined steel or high density polyethylene, with the drum size and the net weight | The container is a specification term. Bare steel and unlined plastic will both change the oil. |
| Headspace and inert blanketingDeclared, with the gas and the fill level | Nitrogen blanketing and a full drum are how an oil holds its acid value and its peroxide value across a voyage. |
| Storage and transit temperatureDeclared, with the range and the monitoring method | Cool and dark, evidenced. Where the contract is silent, an arrival dispute over oxidation cannot be settled. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| India | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Uttarakhand | Origin and destination |
| United States | Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Indiana, Wisconsin | Origin and destination |
| China | Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | Parana, Sao Paulo | Origin and destination |
| Paraguay | Alto Parana | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires, Cordoba | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | Nile Delta, Fayoum | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | Souss, Gharb | Origin and destination |
| Bulgaria | Thracian plain | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Kherson, Poltava | Origin and destination |
| Russia | Krasnodar | Origin and destination |
| Poland | Lublin, Mazovia | Origin and destination |
| France | Provence, Anjou | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Piedmont | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Castilla-La Mancha | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Bavaria, Thuringia | Origin and destination |
| Hungary | Great Plain | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Aegean, Antalya | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Red River Delta | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Java | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Tasmania, Victoria | Origin and destination |
| Canada | Alberta, Ontario | Origin and destination |
| Nepal | Terai | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Central plain | Origin and destination |
| Japan | Nationwide | Destination |
| South Korea | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Nationwide | Destination |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam | Destination |
| Switzerland | Nationwide | Destination |
| Singapore | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Destination |
| Mexico | Nationwide | Destination |
| South Africa | Nationwide | Destination |
| Philippines | Nationwide | Destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Nationwide | Destination |
| Nigeria | Nationwide | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the plant material is cut at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is distillation, settling, batch testing and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jul, arrival Aug to NovA single concentrated cutting and distillation campaign, mostly cornmint for menthol crystal. India sets the world menthol price. | |||||
| United States | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jul to Sep, arrival Sep to DecPiperita cut in high summer across the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest. The reference origin for flavour grade peppermint. | ||||||
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Sep, arrival Sep to DecTwo cuts in the warmer provinces. | |||||
| Brazil | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Feb to JunSouthern warm season cutting. | ||||
| Paraguay | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Feb to MaySouthern summer campaign. | |||||
| Egypt | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Jul to DecTwo cuts on irrigated Delta land, short voyage into Europe. | ||||
| Bulgaria | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctSummer campaign, distilled locally. | |||||||
| Ukraine | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctSummer campaign. | |||||||
| France | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctSmall volume, high specification, contracted ahead of the cut. | |||||||
| Australia | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Mar, arrival Feb to MayTasmanian summer cut, out of phase with the northern crop. | ||||||
| Argentina | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Feb to MaySouthern summer cut. | |||||
| Vietnam | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Apr to Nov, arrival Jan to AugTwo cuts a year in the Delta. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for peppermint oil. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading3301.24 Essential oil of peppermint (Mentha piperita)
3301.25 Essential oils of other mints - PackingEpoxy lined steel drums of 180 kg to 190 kg, aluminium drums or bottles for reactive oils, IBCs for volume grades. Full headspace nitrogen blanket, out of direct sun, away from heat.
- Container loading20ft: 80 drums at roughly 14 t to 15 t. Segregation applies where the oil is classified flammable.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on specification and retained sample with a GC-MS profile and an IFRA conformity certificate. EFEO and IFEAT trade customs. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsIFRA Standards for restricted materials, EU REACH registration above one tonne per year, CLP classification and labelling given that most oils are flammable and many are sensitisers, allergen declaration under the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009, CITES for sandalwood, agarwood and rosewood oils, and IMDG class 3 shipping for flammable oils.
Common questions
What grades of peppermint oil does SIP Global trade?
We quote 53 published grades of peppermint oil, including Mentha x piperita, peppermint - Leaf and flowering top, steam distilled, Mentha arvensis, cornmint - Leaf, steam distilled, dementholised, Mentha spicata, spearmint - Leaf, steam distilled, Dementholised - Declared, with the residual menthol figure, Natural menthol crystal - Declared, with the purity and the melting point and Steam distilled - Distilled in steam from the named plant part, with the charge and the run time declared. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is peppermint oil graded?
Peppermint is traded on species and on the menthol and menthone pair. Piperita and arvensis are separate contracts, and an oil that has had menthol crystallised out of it is declared as such. Grading runs on 6 systems: Botanical source and extraction route, Physicochemical identity, Chromatographic profile, Authenticity and adulteration, Contaminants, safety and regulatory and Certification, documentation and packing.
Where does SIP Global trade peppermint oil?
We trade peppermint oil in India, United States, China, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Egypt and Morocco and 28 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is peppermint oil harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest may to jul, arrival aug to nov; United States: harvest jul to sep, arrival sep to dec; China: harvest jun to sep, arrival sep to dec; Brazil: harvest nov to mar, arrival feb to jun; Paraguay: harvest nov to feb, arrival feb to may. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for peppermint oil?
Peppermint oil is normally classified under HS 3301.24 (essential oil of peppermint (mentha piperita)) and HS 3301.25 (essential oils of other mints). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for peppermint oil?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed peppermint oil market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.