Menthyl salicylate is almost odorless when pure. Slightly bitter-astringent taste. It carries the usual characteristics of a phenol, which are not exactly welcome by the perfumer.
colourless to light yellow liquid
Menthyl salicylate is an ester of menthol and salicylic acid. This product is used to treat minor aches and pains of the muscles/joints (e.g., arthritis, backache, sprains). It also as a "sun screen" to filter out ultraviolet light in Preparations for preventing sunburn.
Menthyl salicylate is produced by azeotropic esterification of Menthol with Salicylic acid, using a Benzene- or Toluene sulfonic acid catalyst.
[1] WANYU LI, YIYAN WANG* Endocrine-Disrupting Effects of Salicylate Preservatives on Neurosteroidogenesis: Targeting 5α-Reductase Type 1[J]. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2024, 72 44: 24797-24807 24797-24807. DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c0426510.1021/acs.jafc.4c04265.
