why do mints leave that cold minty type of cool when you breathe? is it due to the evaporation of the menthol or watever the chemcial is in the perticular mint?

It is due to a certain volatile compound, a certain essential oil. I do not know which oil, maybe someone else knows. There are quite some compounds which have such a mint-like smell (e.g. chlorbutanol, eucalyptus-oil, also some camphor-derivatives).

As does methy salicylate I believe

so its the evaporation/vaporization that causes it?

so its the evaporation/vaporization that causes it?

 

Yes it is. Its also normally never just one that causes it but there are many oils that do this... quite interesting

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

its the same with those "orbit" chewing gums , they contain sorbit and xylol which dont evaporate but they are moving and therefore they need energy which they "steal" from the warmth of your mouth then it feels cold.