Menthol inhibits the perception of warmth

The effect of l-menthol on the ability to perceive gradual increases in skin temperature was measured in two experiments. Experiment 1 established that suprathreshold sensations of warmth generated on the vermilion border of the lip could be significantly attenuated by exposure to menthol in concentrations of 0.2 and 2.0% (in mineral oil). Experiment 2 demonstrated that exposure to the 2.0% menthol solution caused the threshold for warmth to rise significantly whereas the threshold for heat pain was unchanged. Although masking of sensations of warmth by menthol-induced sensations of cold is discussed as a possible explanation for the results, a direct effect of the menthol molecule on warm receptors (i.e., inhibition or desensitization) is considered a more likely explanation.