Menthol and Mint There is a Difference

If you’ve been an avid vaper for a while, there’s no doubt that you’ve come across a wide variety of menthol and mint-flavored e-liquids.  Now, a good number of vapers might believe that mint and menthol are the same thing, and that, therefore, if they enjoy a mint flavor, they’ll inevitably enjoy a menthol flavor as well. 

However, as you’ll see, that’s not exactly the case.

We’re gonna explain the surprising differences between mint and menthol so that you can better finetune your vape juice preferences.  As it turns out, these two ingredients are extremely different in a number of ways.

From a Scientific Standpoint

Mint is a family of plants that includes peppermint, spearmint and lavender.  It’s an herb that’s often used to flavor food, and it’s been a staple of lots of cuisines for literally thousands of years.  Mint can be used fresh, dried or in the form of a flavoring extract, which is exactly what’s in your mint-flavored vape juice. 

To make things simple, mint is a flavor.  Menthol, meanwhile, is not.  Menthol is considered a sensation.  It’s what makes that vape juice feel cold as it passes across the mouth and down the throat.  Menthol doesn’t have a flavor as it’s not a food. 

Interestingly, menthol is a chemical compound that’s found in the plants belonging to the mint family.  However, it’s chemically extracted from the mint leaves so that it’s its own isolated compound, meaning that its flavor has been removed during the process.

This is why a menthol-flavored e-juice won’t necessarily have a minty taste, and why a mint-flavored juice won’t necessarily feel cool as you inhale and exhale.  Now, mint does contain menthol, so it’s understandable that you’d think that a mint flavor would inevitably give you that cooling sensation. However, the mint flavorings that’re commonly used in vape juices have had the menthol removed during the extraction process.

Now, to make matters even more complicated, not all mint-flavored e-liquids contain real mint extract, nor do all menthol juices contain actual menthol.  There are a lot of imitation ingredients out there that provide a similar taste or sensation, but they’re artificial. 

Blending Capabilities

Now that you know how mint and menthol differ from each other, you might be able to understand why so many e-liquids come in menthol variations while few actually have mint added to their flavor profiles.  For instance, countless candy-inspired e-liquid lines offer their collection of flavors with the addition of menthol.  Because menthol is not a flavor, it doesn’t take away from the powerful candy-like taste.  However, if those companies were to add mint rather than menthol to their candy flavors, you’d notice that the flavor profiles were totally different, which wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that virtually any e-liquid will still be satisfying in terms of flavor after menthol has been added to it, because menthol doesn’t have a flavor, which means that it doesn’t actually alter the taste of the vape juice.  Meanwhile, the flavors that can be combined with mint are far more limited as mint doesn’t blend well with everything. 

Vaper’s Preference

Now, not every mint lover enjoys menthol, and not every menthol lover likes the taste of mint.  As always, it comes down to personal preference.  So, feel free to explore both types of vape juices in order to figure out which you prefer.

Mint and menthol do share a lot in common, but…

They are completely different ingredients that have different effects on your overall vaping experience.  So, now that you know the differences, you can make more informed choices when you shop for e-liquids.  Remember that ultimately, it’s about your unique vaping preferences.

Tags: mint, menthol, flavors, e-liquids, e-juices, vape juices, vapes, vapers, vaping