Mentha arvensis is the primary species of mint used to make natural menthol crystals and natural menthol flakes.
Chemical properties
Menthol reacts in many ways like a normal secondary alcohol. It is oxidised to menthone by oxidising agents such as chromic acid,
though under some conditions the oxidation can go further and break open the ring. Menthol is easily dehydrated to give mainly
3-menthene, by the action of 2% sulfuric acid. PCl5 gives menthyl chloride.