Choosing the Right Alcohol Grade for Dissolving Menthol in Cooling Powder
Question
I am producing a cooling powder containing Menthol and need to use alcohol as a solvent.
- Which type of alcohol is most suitable for this application?
- What are the differences between 96% and 99% concentrations?
- What are the respective pros and cons of each?
Answer
For producing cooling powder (แป้งเย็น) where Menthol needs to be dissolved, the most suitable type of alcohol is Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol), specifically Perfumer Grade or Low-Odor grade. This ensures that the alcohol's own scent does not interfere with the fragrance of your product.
Comparison between 96% and 99.9% Ethyl Alcohol
Both concentrations can dissolve Menthol effectively, but they have different characteristics:
1. Ethyl Alcohol 96% (Perfumer Grade)
- Characteristics: Contains approximately 4% water.
- Pros:
- More cost-effective (cheaper).
- Standard grade for most cosmetic and perfume applications.
- Easier to store as it is more stable at this concentration.
- Cons: Contains a small amount of water, which might slightly slow down the evaporation compared to the 99.9% version.
2. Ethyl Alcohol 99.9% (Absolute Alcohol / 200 Proof)
- Characteristics: Almost 100% pure alcohol with negligible water content.
- Pros:
- Evaporates very quickly, which is excellent for products where you want the solvent to disappear almost instantly.
- High purity, often used in high-end perfumes or research-grade formulations.
- Cons:
- More expensive.
- Highly hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air very quickly). If the container is left open, it will naturally absorb water and drop towards 96% concentration.
Recommendation for Cooling Powder
For the production of cooling powder, Ethyl Alcohol 96% is generally sufficient and the most popular choice because it is economical and the 4% water content does not negatively impact the Menthol dissolution or the final powder quality.
However, if your production process requires the solvent to evaporate as fast as possible after mixing with the powder base to prevent clumping, Ethyl Alcohol 99.9% would be the superior choice.
Suggested Products:
- Ethyl Alcohol (96% , Perfumer Grade, Low-Odor): Suitable for general cooling powder production.
- Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof, Research/Perfumer Grade): Suitable if you require maximum purity and the fastest evaporation rate.
- Menthol Crystal: To provide the cooling sensation.
- CoCool™: An alternative cooling agent that combines Menthol and Menthyl Lactate for a longer-lasting cooling effect than Menthol alone.
