In short: peppermint smells cool, sharp and clean, with a sweet, candy-cane brightness. It feels almost cold in your nose.
What peppermint smells like
Peppermint is the strongest and coolest of the mints. It is crisp and bracing, with a little sweetness behind it. Spearmint, its gentler cousin, is sweeter and greener, the flavor of spearmint gum. In a candle, peppermint makes a room feel fresh and wide awake, and it is a favorite around the holidays.
Where it comes from
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint. The leaves are steam distilled into oil. Its cooling effect comes from menthol, which triggers the same nerve receptors that sense cold. Spearmint's main compound, carvone, is sweeter and has no cooling effect. Much of America's peppermint oil comes from farms in Oregon and Washington.
Our Peppermint Aromatherapy Candle is scented with peppermint essential oil. Our other blends use fragrance oils with a mint note.
How it is used
Peppermint is a top note: bright at first, fading sooner than woods and resins. It shows up in holiday, spa and "clean" scents.
What it pairs with
- Vanilla and chocolate, for a peppermint mocha or candy cane
- Eucalyptus, for a spa steam room
- Lavender and rosemary, for an herb garden
- Pine, for a crisp winter forest
Our candles with mint
- Peppermint Aromatherapy Candle: a single-note candle with peppermint essential oil.
- Virescent: spearmint and tomato leaf, like a thriving garden.
- Sagittarius Zodiac Candle: peppermint and eucalyptus with juniper, sage and cedar.
- Deep Mountain: mint and eucalyptus over moss and balsam.
Common questions
Is peppermint safe around pets? Peppermint oil is toxic to cats and dogs if they eat it or get it on their fur, and some pets are sensitive to strong scents. Burn candles in a ventilated room, out of reach, and ask your vet if you have concerns.
What's the difference between peppermint and spearmint? Peppermint is cooler and sharper because of menthol. Spearmint is sweeter and softer.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Fresh & Clean candles.