What Is Freskomenthe?
Freskomenthe is a synthetic aroma chemical created by the Swiss flavour and fragrance house Givaudan. While Givaudan owns the trademarked name, other suppliers often carry the same molecule under more generic labels, so it is usually easy to source.
The material belongs to the family of hydroxy menthane derivatives, produced in modern fragrance plants through controlled catalytic reactions that start with naturally occurring mint oils. The process strips out unwanted by-products, leaving a highly purified liquid that is colourless and water-clear at room temperature.
Formulators like Freskomenthe because it is simple to blend, offers solid stability across a wide pH range and resists the harsh conditions found in bleach or hot soap bases. Thanks to that toughness the ingredient features in everything from fine fragrance to laundry powder and air care.
In everyday use Freskomenthe remains relatively affordable, sitting in the mid-price tier of minty cool materials. It is stocked by most fragrance compounding houses which keeps costs in check and makes it a common fixture on perfumers’ palettes.
When stored unopened in a cool dark place the molecule keeps its freshness for at least two years, often longer. Once a drum is opened it is best used within twelve months to ensure the odour stays bright.
Freskomenthe’s Scent Description
Perfumers file Freskomenthe under the herbal family, with a clear tilt toward minty freshness. Smelt on a blotter it opens with a brisk hit of spearmint leaf rather than candy cane peppermint. Within seconds a leafy green nuance appears, suggesting crushed garden herbs. As the first sparkle settles gentle woody tones drift in, hinting at dry cedar shavings that keep the accord from feeling icy or medicinal.
Freskomenthe behaves mostly like a top-to-heart note. It announces itself quickly, then lingers long enough to bridge into the body of a composition. After about thirty minutes on paper the outright mint fades but the subtle coolness hangs around, giving lift to florals, citruses and fougère style bases.
Projection is moderate: strong enough to cut through detergent powder yet soft enough to sit comfortably in a personal fragrance. On a blotter its detectable trail lasts close to three hours, which is impressive for a fresh material. In blends it often extends the airy side of a scent long past the initial spray, keeping the formula feeling clean and invigorating.
How & Where To Use Freskomenthe
Perfumers reach for Freskomenthe when they want a cool herbal accent without the punch of menthol. It slips neatly into lavender fougères, modern citrus colognes, green florals and sporty woods. A few drops can brighten a formula then fade in time for the heart notes to shine.
The material works best as part of a mint accord that aims to feel natural and leafy rather than sweet. It also excels at lifting a geranium note or sharpening a bergamot top. In household products it cuts through soapiness and leaves a clean afterfeel that lasts on fabric.
Typical usage levels sit around 0.2 to 3 percent in fine fragrance and up to 6 percent in soaps or detergents. At trace amounts it adds an airy freshness that is hard to spot yet easy to miss once removed. Push it toward the high end and it turns more obviously minty with a hint of camphor. Beyond that the scent can flatten and drift toward toothpaste territory so restraint is wise.
Freskomenthe tolerates high pH, chlorine and heat, making it a safe bet for bleach cleaners and powder detergents where natural mint oils would fall apart. It is less helpful in gourmand or heavy oriental themes where its brisk style can clash with sweet balsams.
To prepare, weigh the neat material then dilute to 10 percent in ethanol or dipropylene glycol for easier handling. The liquid mixes well but a brief warm water bath can help if your lab is cold. Always label the dilution with date and strength so you can track stability over time.
Safely Using Freskomenthe
Start safe and stay safe. Dilute the raw material before you smell it, never sniff straight from the bottle. Work at a ventilated bench so vapors move away from your face and use gloves and safety glasses to keep splashes off skin and eyes.
Most people can handle low levels of Freskomenthe without trouble yet concentrated contact may trigger irritation or an allergic reaction. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding talk with your doctor before spending long hours around any aroma chemicals.
Short whiffs of a fresh blotter are fine. Repeated or prolonged exposure to high concentrations can dry the skin and irritate airways so take breaks and wash your hands after work.
Store the bottle tight and upright in a cool dark place. When the material reaches the end of its life, deliver leftovers to a chemical waste handler rather than pouring them down the drain.
Regulations evolve. Always read the latest safety data sheet from your supplier and follow it closely. Check current IFRA guidelines for allowed levels in each product type and update your formula if the limits change.
How To Store & Dispose of Freskomenthe
Good storage keeps Freskomenthe fresh and smelling right. A cool dark cupboard away from heaters or sunny windows is usually enough. If you own a lab fridge you can place the bottle inside to slow oxidation and extend shelf life even further. Never freeze the material as ice crystals can ruin the seal and let air sneak in.
Use glass bottles with tight-fitting polycone caps. These liners grip the neck and stop slow leaks that can spoil both the liquid and the rest of your aroma shelf. Dropper bottles look handy yet they seldom seal well so leave them for short-lived blends rather than raw stock.
Try to keep each bottle as full as possible. Less headspace means less oxygen in contact with the liquid which helps hold back off notes. When you split larger amounts into working dilutions label each container clearly with the name Freskomenthe, the strength of the mix and the date you made it plus any safety icons required by local rules.
If a batch turns cloudy or the odour feels dull do not tip it down the sink. Although Freskomenthe is readily biodegradable high doses can still harm aquatic life. Collect unwanted material in a sealed waste jar and hand it to a licensed chemical disposal service or follow your council’s hazardous waste program.
Rinse empty bottles with a little detergent solution then triple-rinse with water before recycling the glass where facilities exist. Remove or deface old labels so nobody mistakes the container for food or drink.
Summary
Freskomenthe is a Givaudan-made aroma chemical that delivers a crisp herbal mint note with a gentle woody edge. It shines in top and early heart stages giving soaps detergents and fine fragrances a clean cool lift without leaning into sharp menthol territory.
Perfumers like it for its versatility stability and friendly cost compared with natural peppermint oil. The molecule stands up to high pH heat and bleach so it keeps performing where delicate botanicals fail. Used at 0.2 to 3 percent in perfume and up to 6 percent in functional products it freshens lavender citrus geranium and green accords while remaining easy to blend.
Remember it flashes off in a few hours so pair it with longer-lasting woods musks or florals when you want the freshness to echo. Store it cool and capped tight to avoid oxidation and watch your dosage or the mix can drift toward toothpaste.
You can order Freskomenthe in bulk straight from Givaudan or authorised distributors. Smaller hobby sizes often show up at specialist fragrance suppliers and generic brokers under the same CAS number. Whether you need a drum for a production run or a vial for testing the material is widely available and ready to put a breath of cool air into your next formula.