BASF to introduce L-Menthol and DL-Menthol at 2012 World Perfumery Congress

Germany-based chemical ingredients manufacturing company BASF will introduce two new cosmetics ingredients L-Menthol and DL-Menthol at the 2012 World Perfumery Congress (WPC), and will showcase a its line of aroma chemical products.

According to the firm, the new ingredients are used mainly in home and personal care products, fine fragrances as well as in the food industry and in pharmaceutical applications.

The firm claimed that L-menthol, which is used in manufacturing consumer products such as dental care, personal care, skin care products, fragrances, as well as chewing gum and food flavours, is the world’s largest-selling aroma.

BASF said it had developed a special production process based on the core intermediate Citral, which would enable the firm to supply large quantities of pure product.

The firm said the new ingredients would be available from the third quarter of 2012, along with the opening of their new production facility located in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

BASF also revealed that a special pharmaceutical grade of L-menthol will also be available from 2013.

BASF’s aroma chemicals business unit vice president Miguel Peña said with the combination of good quality, global reach, local support and reliability of supply, the availability of their menthol products globally would increase.

"Our success is founded on the long term trust based on relationships we build with our customers worldwide," said Peña.

In addition to the launch of menthol products, the firm will also featuring Pyranol, a harmoniser, which is used in the creation of perfumes, without disturbing the basic accord of the fragrance and creating a substantive building block with high stability.