Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient

Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil

INCI: MENTHA SPICATA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM OIL (ALSO LISTED AS MENTHA SPICATA LEAF/STEM OIL)

CAS Number
84696-51-5 (also referenced as 8008-79-5 for spearmint oil broadly)
Function
Fragrance, Skin Conditioning
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Allowed - not prohibited or restricted; FDA does not pre-approve cosmetic ingredients other than color additives. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a flavoring in food

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Contains carvone (>50%), limonene, and pinene, all of which are potential skin sensitizers; undiluted use may cause contact dermatitis; phototoxicity risk is low but patch testing is advisable. Steam-distilled from Mentha spicata L. (spearmint); dominated by (R)-(-)-carvone giving a characteristic sweet minty profile distinct from peppermint; antioxidant and antimicrobial activity documented

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

plant-oil potential-allergen fragrance-component

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil safe in cosmetics?

Contains carvone (>50%), limonene, and pinene, all of which are potential skin sensitizers; undiluted use may cause contact dermatitis; phototoxicity risk is low but patch testing is advisable. Steam-distilled from Mentha spicata L. (spearmint); dominated by (R)-(-)-carvone giving a characteristic sweet minty profile distinct from peppermint; antioxidant and antimicrobial activity documented The EU classifies Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil allowed in the EU?

Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil do in cosmetics?

Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil functions as: Fragrance, Skin Conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 84696-51-5 (also referenced as 8008-79-5 for spearmint oil broadly).

What is the Margin of Safety for Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check Mentha Spicata Leaf/Stem Oil compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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