Difference Between Camphor and Menthol

The key difference between camphor and menthol is that camphor provides a warm sensation, whereas menthol provides a cooling sensation.

Camphor and menthol are organic substances that can relieve mild pain. Camphor relieves pain by absorbing into skin epidermis, stimulating the nerve endings that are sensitive to heat and cold, which can produce a warm sensation when applied on the skin. Menthol, on the other hand, can provoke a cooling sensation by stimulating the cold-sensitive receptors on the skin.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Camphor
3. What is Menthol
4. Similarities Between Camphor and Menthol
5. Side by Side Comparison – Camphor vs Menthol in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Camphor?

Camphor is a waxy solid substance having a strong aroma. This solid substance is flammable and transparent, as well. Camphor is a terpenoid substance having the chemical formula C₁₀H₁₆O. We can find this substance naturally occurring in the wood of camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), which is a large evergreen tree we can find in East Asia. However, we can synthetically produce this substance from the oil of turpentine.

As shown in the above image, there are two possible enantiomers of camphor. Among them, the one in the left is the naturally occurring form of camphor we can name as (+)-camphor. The structure on the right side is the mirror image of the naturally occurring camphor structure.

Camphor occurs as white, translucent crystals. When considering the odour of this substance, it has a fragrant that is penetrating. For centuries, camphor was produced by people as a forest product through condensation from the vapour given off by the roasting of wood chips cut from the relevant trees, and later by passing steam through the pulverized wood and condensing the vapour. However, we can produce camphor from alpha-pinene (this substance is abundant in the oils of coniferous trees). Moreover, we can produce it from the distillation of turpentine that is produced as a byproduct of the chemical pulping process.

There are many different uses of camphor due to its sublimating capability. In the plastic production as a plasticizer, as a pest deterrent and a preservative, as a perfume ingredient, etc. In addition to these, there are some culinary uses of camphor (such as using it as an ingredient in sweets), medicinal uses (as a topical medication as a skin cream or ointment to relieve from itching caused by insect bites), in Hindu religious ceremonies, etc.

What is Menthol?

Menthol is an organic compound having the ability to chemically trigger the cold-sensitive receptors in the skin. This substance is either synthetically formed or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. Menthol is a waxy, crystalline substance having a white or clear appearance, and it is solid at room temperature that can melt at temperatures slightly above the room temperature.

Naturally, menthol exists in one pure stereoisomer. But there are eight possible stereoisomers of menthol as shown below. Among them, the (+)-menthol form is the most stable form.

Menthol has the ability to stimulate the cold-sensitive receptors on our skin, provoking the cooling sensation. This provoking occurs when menthol is inhaled, eaten, or applied on the skin. Furthermore, this substance is considered to have analgesic properties. It can block the voltage-sensitive sodium channels on skin, reducing the neural activity that can stimulate muscles.

There are several important applications of menthol, including the manufacture of some non-prescription products for short term relief or minor sore throat and minor mouth irritation, as an antipruritic to reduce itching, as a topical analgesic, as a penetrating enhancer for drug delivery, in aftershave products to relieve razor burn, etc.

What are the Similarities Between Camphor and Menthol?

• Both camphor and menthol are naturally occurring substances.
• These substances can relieve mild pain.

What is the Difference Between Camphor and Menthol?

Camphor and menthol are organic substances that can relieve mild pain. Camphor is a waxy solid substance having a strong aroma while menthol is an organic compound having the ability to chemically trigger the cold-sensitive receptors in the skin. The key difference between camphor and menthol is that camphor provides a warm sensation, whereas menthol provides a cooling sensation.

Below infographic shows more differences between camphor and menthol in tabular form.

Summary – Camphor vs Menthol

Camphor relieves pain by absorbing into skin epidermis, stimulating the nerve endings that are sensitive to heat and cold, which can produce a warm sensation when applied on the skin. Menthol, on the other hand, can provoke a cooling sensation by stimulating the cold-sensitive receptors on the skin. Thus, this is the key difference between camphor and menthol.

Reference:

1. “Camphor.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Jan. 2021, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Alcanfor-2D” By Manuel Almagro Rivas – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Mentholisomere” By Roland Mattern – Roland1952, Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia