Menthone

Menthone is a monoterpenoid with a minty odor. It is a colorless liquid and a constituent of several essential oils, notably peppermint and pennyroyal. Chemically, menthone is a ketone derivative of menthane. It exists in two diastereomeric forms, designated as l-menthone and d-menthone (also known as (-)-menthone and (+)-menthone, respectively), based on the direction they rotate plane-polarized light. The l-isomer is more prevalent in nature.

Menthone is used in flavoring, fragrance, and as a chemical intermediate in the production of other menthol derivatives. It is also used in some insect repellent formulations. Menthone can be produced synthetically or extracted from natural sources. The flavor profile is described as less pungent than menthol, with a milder, somewhat woody-minty character.