menthol

menthol
    n 1: a crystalline compound that has the cool and minty taste
         and odor that occurs naturally in peppermint oil; used as a
         flavoring and in medicine to relieve itching, pain, and
         nasal congestion
    2: a lotion containing menthol which gives it the smell of mint
    

menthol \men"thol\, n. [Mentha + -ol.] (Chem.)
   A white, crystalline, aromatic substance ({C10H20O})
   resembling camphor, extracted from oil of peppermint
   ({Mentha}); -- called also {mint camphor} or {peppermint
   camphor}. It has the peculiar effect on skin and membranes of
   making them feel cool, and is used in liqueurs, confections,
   cigarettes, cough drops and perfumes, among other things.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]
    

Camphor \Cam"phor\ (k[a^]m"f[~e]r), n. [OE. camfere, F. camphre
   (cf. It. canfora, Sp. camfora, alcanfor, LL. canfora,
   camphora, NGr. kafoyra`), fr. Ar. k[=a]f[=u]r, prob. fr. Skr.
   karp[=u]ra.]
   1. A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from
      different species of the {Laurus} family, esp. from
      {Cinnamomum camphara} (the {Laurus camphora} of
      Linn[ae]us.). Camphor, {C10H16O}, is volatile and
      fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a
      stimulant, or sedative.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. originally, a gum resembling ordinary camphor, obtained
      from a tree ({Dryobalanops aromatica} formerly
      {Dryobalanops camphora}) growing in Sumatra and Borneo;
      now applied to its main constituent, a terpene alcohol
      obtainable as a white solid {C10H18O}, called also {Borneo
      camphor}, {Malay camphor}, {Malayan camphor}, {camphor of
      Borneo}, {Sumatra camphor}, {bornyl alcohol}, {camphol},
      and {borneol}. The isomer from {Dryobalanops} is
      dextrorotatory; the levoratatory form is obtainable from
      other species of plants, and the racemic mixture may be
      obtained by reduction of camphor. It is used in perfumery,
      and for manufacture of its esters. See {Borneol}.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   Note: The name camphor is also applied to a number of bodies
         of similar appearance and properties, as {cedar
         camphor}, obtained from the red or pencil cedar
         ({Juniperus Virginiana}), and {peppermint camphor}, or
         {menthol}, obtained from the oil of peppermint.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Camphor oil} (Chem.), name variously given to certain
      oil-like products, obtained especially from the camphor
      tree.

   {Camphor tree}, a large evergreen tree ({Cinnamomum
      Camphora}) with lax, smooth branches and shining
      triple-nerved lanceolate leaves, probably native in China,
      but now cultivated in most warm countries. Camphor is
      collected by a process of steaming the chips of the wood
      and subliming the product.
      [1913 Webster]