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Quick answer: spearmint essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of Mentha spicata and related spearmint varieties. Its main compound is carvone, which gives it the sweet, fresh smell of spearmint gum, and it contains very little menthol, so it feels milder and less cooling than peppermint. It is used in diffusers, roller blends, room sprays and as a flavor in toothpaste and gum. Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young flags skin sensitization and mucous membrane irritation, so keep adult skin use low, around 1%, and patch test. Many people choose it as a gentler mint than peppermint, but it still needs dilution and should be kept away from babies’ faces.
Spearmint is the mint behind the sweet flavor of many chewing gums and toothpastes. Its essential oil captures that familiar freshness without the icy bite of peppermint, which makes it a popular choice for people who find peppermint too strong.
This guide explains what spearmint oil is, how it compares with peppermint, what research shows and how to use it safely. For the basics of choosing and diluting oils, start with our complete essential oils guide.
Sources: Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition (Churchill Livingstone, 2014); Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plants of the World Online; peer-reviewed studies on Mentha spicata oil composition; Grant P., Phytotherapy Research (2010), randomized trial of spearmint herbal tea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome; National Capital Poison Center guidance on essential oils; ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center guidance on essential oils and pets. This article is general information and not medical advice. Checked October 2026.
What Spearmint Essential Oil Is
Spearmint, Mentha spicata, is a perennial herb in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to parts of Europe and Asia and is now grown widely, including large commercial plantings in the United States. The name spicata refers to the spike-shaped flower clusters.
The essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and flowering tops. It is pale yellow to nearly colorless with a sweet, fresh, minty scent.
Native and Scotch spearmint
Commercial spearmint oil comes mainly from two types: native spearmint, Mentha spicata, and Scotch spearmint, Mentha × gracilis, a hybrid. Both are rich in carvone, though their aroma differs slightly. Labels may simply say spearmint, so check the botanical name if the type matters to you.
Main constituents
Carvone is the main component of spearmint oil, often making up half or more. Limonene is usually the second major compound, with smaller amounts of 1,8-cineole, myrcene, dihydrocarvone and other terpenes. Menthol, the cooling compound in peppermint, is present only in small amounts or not at all.
| Constituent | Scent character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carvone | Sweet, minty, spearmint gum | Main component; skin sensitizer at higher levels |
| Limonene | Citrusy | Second major component; oxidizes |
| 1,8-Cineole | Fresh, camphor-like | Small amounts |
| Myrcene | Herbal, slightly balsamic | Minor |
| Menthol | Cooling | Little or none |
A carvone curiosity
Carvone exists in two mirror-image forms. The form in spearmint smells like mint, while its mirror image is the main scent compound in caraway and dill seed. The two molecules have the same atoms arranged as mirror images, yet our noses can tell them apart, which makes carvone a classic example in chemistry classes.
Spearmint vs Peppermint
| Feature | Spearmint | Peppermint |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Mentha spicata | Mentha × piperita |
| Main compound | Carvone | Menthol |
| Scent | Sweet, soft, gum-like | Sharp, cool, intense |
| Cooling effect | Mild | Strong |
| Common uses | Gum, toothpaste, gentle diffuser blends | Headache balms, cooling rubs, strong diffuser blends |
| Main safety issues | Skin sensitization, mucous membrane irritation | Strong menthol effects; caution near children’s faces |
Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint and water mint, which is why the two share a family resemblance. Because spearmint has far less menthol, it does not produce peppermint’s icy tingle. Our guide to peppermint essential oil covers its uses and cautions in detail.
What Research Says About Spearmint
Spearmint is often promoted for nausea, digestion, focus, headaches and hormone balance. Here is what the evidence actually covers.
Spearmint tea and hormones
A small randomized trial published in Phytotherapy Research in 2010 by Grant found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome who drank spearmint tea twice a day for a month had lower free testosterone levels than those drinking a placebo tea. This research involved tea, not essential oil, and the study was small. It does not show that applying or diffusing spearmint oil affects hormones. Anyone with PCOS or hormone concerns should work with a doctor.
Nausea
Mint scents are often used for nausea, and some small studies have looked at spearmint and peppermint inhalation for nausea after surgery or during chemotherapy, with mixed results. Smelling spearmint may feel refreshing, but evidence is not strong enough to treat it as a medical remedy.
Lab studies
Laboratory research has found antimicrobial and antioxidant activity for spearmint oil in test tubes. These findings do not translate directly into proven benefits in people.
The bottom line
Spearmint oil is best used as a pleasant, fresh scent for diffusing, roller blends, room sprays and natural personal care. It should not replace medical treatment.
Spearmint Essential Oil Safety
Skin sensitization
Tisserand and Young list skin sensitization as a hazard for spearmint because of its carvone content. Keep skin use low, around 1% for adults, and patch test on the inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours before wider use. Stop if redness, itching or rash develops. See our essential oil dilution chart for drop counts by bottle size.
Mucous membrane irritation
Spearmint can irritate mucous membranes. Keep it away from eyes, inside the nose and other sensitive areas. Do not add undiluted oil to bath water, since oils float and can sting.
Oxidation
Limonene in spearmint oxidizes over time, which can increase the risk of skin reactions. Keep bottles tightly capped in a cool, dark place and use within a reasonable time.
Children
Spearmint is often suggested as a gentler alternative to peppermint for children because it contains little menthol. Even so, it is not appropriate to apply to babies’ faces or near their noses, and lower dilutions apply for children. Our guide to essential oils for kids by age explains age-based guidance. The National Capital Poison Center warns that swallowing essential oils can poison children, so store bottles out of reach with child-resistant caps.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Pets
The ASPCA advises caution with essential oils around pets, and cats are especially sensitive. Diffuse lightly in ventilated rooms where pets can leave, and never apply oils to pets without veterinary advice.
Do not swallow it
Food-grade spearmint flavorings are used in tiny amounts in gum and toothpaste, but that is very different from swallowing drops of essential oil. Do not take spearmint oil by mouth. If anyone swallows essential oil, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the United States.
How to Use Spearmint Essential Oil
In a diffuser
- Add 3 to 5 drops to a water-based diffuser.
- Run it for 30 to 60 minutes in a ventilated room.
- Take breaks between sessions.
Spearmint is a nice choice for kitchens, home offices and morning routines. Our comparison of essential oil diffuser types explains which devices suit small and large rooms.
Roller blends
For an adult roller, use about 2 drops of spearmint plus 1 or 2 drops of another oil in a 10 mL roller of carrier oil, keeping the total around 1% to 2%. Apply to wrists or the back of the neck, away from the eyes.
Room and linen sprays
Mix spearmint with a small amount of high-proof alcohol before adding water. Shake well and spray into the air rather than directly onto fabrics or skin.
Natural cleaning scent
A few drops of spearmint can freshen a homemade cleaner. Our guide to essential oils for cleaning explains which surfaces to avoid and why oils are a scent, not a disinfectant.
Spearmint Essential Oil Blends
Spearmint pairs well with citrus, herbal and soft floral oils. Diffuser ideas:
- Fresh kitchen: 2 drops spearmint, 3 drops lemon
- Morning focus: 2 drops spearmint, 2 drops rosemary, 1 drop grapefruit
- Calm mint: 2 drops spearmint, 3 drops lavender
- Garden fresh: 2 drops spearmint, 2 drops basil, 1 drop lime
- Sweet and bright: 2 drops spearmint, 2 drops sweet orange, 1 drop vanilla absolute or vanilla CO2
Spearmint Oil at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Mentha spicata (also Mentha × gracilis) |
| Plant family | Lamiaceae |
| Plant part | Leaves and flowering tops |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Scent | Sweet, fresh, gum-like mint |
| Main constituent | Carvone |
| Main hazards | Skin sensitization, mucous membrane irritation |
| Phototoxic | No |
| Typical adult skin dilution | About 1% |
Spearmint in Personal Care
Spearmint is one of the most common flavors in oral care, which is why its scent feels so clean and familiar. At home, people often add it to:
- Foot soaks and foot balms, diluted in a carrier oil or unscented base first
- Lip balms, at very low levels, since lips are sensitive
- Hair and scalp oils for a fresh scent
- Body washes and shower gels, added to an unscented base
For leave-on products, stay around 1% or less. In rinse-off products such as body wash, low amounts still give plenty of scent. Avoid using spearmint on broken, sunburned or irritated skin.
Spearmint Hydrosol
Spearmint hydrosol, the fragrant water left after steam distillation, contains only tiny amounts of essential oil. It has a soft mint scent and is used as a room or linen mist and in homemade toners. Because hydrosols are water based, they can grow bacteria and mold, so keep them refrigerated, use clean bottles and discard any that smell off or look cloudy.
Growing Your Own Spearmint
Spearmint is easy to grow and spreads quickly through underground runners, so many gardeners plant it in pots to keep it from taking over beds. It likes moist soil and sun to partial shade. Fresh leaves are perfect for tea, salads, sauces and drinks, though home-grown mint will not produce essential oil without distillation equipment and large amounts of plant material. A pot of spearmint near the kitchen door gives you the scent for free every time you brush past it.
How to Choose a Good Spearmint Oil
- Look for the botanical name Mentha spicata or Mentha × gracilis.
- Check the country of origin and extraction method.
- Choose sellers who provide batch GC/MS test reports showing carvone content.
- Avoid products labeled as food or supplements unless they are clearly flavor products meant for food use in tiny amounts.
- Buy smaller bottles if you use it occasionally, since it can oxidize.
Spearmint Essential Oil Summary
Spearmint essential oil is steam distilled from Mentha spicata and related spearmint varieties. Carvone gives it a sweet, gum-like mint scent, and it has very little menthol, so it is softer and less cooling than peppermint. Research on spearmint tea suggests possible effects on hormones in women with PCOS, but that does not apply to the essential oil, and evidence for nausea and other uses is limited. Essential Oil Safety flags skin sensitization and mucous membrane irritation, so keep adult skin use around 1%, patch test and keep it away from babies’ faces. It works well in diffuser blends with citrus, lavender, rosemary and basil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spearmint essential oil good for?
It is mainly used for its fresh, sweet mint scent in diffusers, roller blends, room sprays and natural cleaning products. Health claims beyond aroma are not well supported for the essential oil.
Is spearmint oil safer than peppermint for kids?
It contains much less menthol, so it is often considered gentler. It still needs proper dilution, should not be applied to babies’ faces and should be kept out of reach of children.
What is the difference between spearmint and peppermint oil?
Spearmint’s main compound is carvone, giving a sweet, gum-like scent with little cooling. Peppermint is rich in menthol, which gives a strong cooling sensation.
Can I put spearmint oil on my skin?
Yes, when diluted to about 1% for adults. Patch test first, since carvone can cause skin sensitization in some people.
Can I drink spearmint essential oil?
No. Do not take essential oils by mouth. Spearmint tea is a different product with much lower concentrations of plant compounds.
