Spearmint oil |

Last updated: 22/08/2025
|
 |
(Also known as: p-mentha-6,8-dien-2-one; d-carvone) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
  |
|
|
|
A fungicide, insecticide and plant growth regulator often used as a potato sprouting inhibitor |
|
Storage pests; Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae); Houseflies (Musca domestica); Growth |
|
Potatoes |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Lamiales; Family: Lamiaceae |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
|
Approved |
|
Sweden/Netherlands |
|
31/01/2026 |
|
No |
|
Yes |
|
ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
  |
  |
✓ |
✓ |
  |
✓ |
ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
  |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
  |
LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
  |
  |
✓ |
  |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
  |
  |
|
|
ISIceland |
NONorway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
|
|
Spearmint oil contains several compounds that exhibit stereoisomerism, most notably carvone, which exists as two enantiomers: (R)-carvone and (S)-carvone. Spearmint oil is rich in (R)-carvone, which gives it its characteristic sweet, minty aroma. This enantiomeric form differs from (S)-carvone found in caraway oil, which smells spicy and earthy. |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Major consitituent: InChI=1S/C10H14O/c1-7(2)9-5-4-8(3)10(11)6-9/h4,9H,1,5-6H2,2-3H3 |
|
Yes |
|
Plant Growth Regulator; Insecticide; Metabolite; Other substance |
|
Soil; Groundwater |
|
Antimicrobial |
|
Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
|
- |
|
EU dossier - none declared |
|
Natural; Complex mixture |
|
Works primarily through a non-toxic mode of action as a repellent but also thought to inhibit cell growth |
|
Plant oil dervived primarily from the Mentha spicata plant |
|
Post harvest management; Crop protection; Domestic pest control |
|
Storage pests; Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae); Houseflies (Musca domestica) |
|
Potatoes |
|
- |
|
8008-79-5 |
|
283-656-2 (spearmint extract) |
|
908 |
|
128800 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
spearmint oil |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
FEMA=3032; FLAVIS=04.134 |
|
- |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
- |
|
Colourless to pale yellow/green liquid which is comprised of a complex mixture of botanical substances including L-carvone (~67%), D-limonene (~14%), |
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
1966, first listed for plant protection |
|
- Silverline Chemicals, India
- Arora Aromatics
- VedaOils UK
|
|
- Mentha Spicata Oil
- MintGuard
- Natural Spearmint Oil
|
|
Usually supplied in formulations for hot fogging for indoor use only |
|
Commercial production of spearmint oil begins with the cultivation of Mentha spicata. The leaves are harvested at peak potency, often during summer, using careful methods to preserve oil quality. The most common extraction technique is steam distillation, where steam passes through the leaves to release volatile compounds, which are then condensed and separated from water to yield the oil. Some producers also use solvent extraction for specialised applications. |
|
Data for specific plant oils is scarce. However, from publicly available data the carbon footprint of plant oils has been estimated at between 1.0 and 4.0 kg CO₂e per kg of oil. This depends on the plant oil content, agricultural practices and processing methods used. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1300 |
at 25 °C |
High |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
230 |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
92.0 |
|
- |
|
|
2.51 X 1002 |
Calculated |
- |
|
2.4 |
|
Low |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
0.957 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
21328 |
at 25 °C |
Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable |
|
7.83 |
at 25 °C |
Moderately volatile |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
31.13 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
30 |
Carvone |
Moderately persistent |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
|
- |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
|
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
|
|
|
|
|
> 2000 |
Rat |
Low |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
> 1000 |
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source Eisenia foetida |
Low |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
> 200 |
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Low |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
> 20.3 |
Oncorhynchus mykiss as carvone |
Moderate |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
> 9.59 |
Daphnia magna as carvone |
Moderate |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
4.58 |
Unknown species as carvone |
Moderate |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate (class II) |
- |
- |
|
> 2000 |
Rat |
Low |
|
2000 |
Rat |
- |
|
> 5.43 |
Rat |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Carcinogen |
|
Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
?Possibly, status not identified |
?Possibly, status not identified |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
  |
?Possibly, status not identified |
No data found |
  |
|
|
May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea |
|
|
|
Not explosve or oxidising |
|
Health: H304, H317 |
|
Not listed (Not listed) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Volatile — store in an airtight container |
|
|
|
spearmint oil |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
Record last updated: |
22/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |