Description |
L-(-)-Carvone is the principal odor component of spearmint. It is with a refreshingly cool, minty odor and taste. It is used as flavor ingredient in a variety of foods and beverages, as well as in toothpaste and mouthwash. It is used as a fragrance in personal care products. It is intended for use in the manufacture of an area repellent for mosquitoes and biting flies. L-(-)-carvone is also used in agriculture as a sprout inhibitor of potatoes. |
References |
[1] Charles S Sell, The Chemistry of Fragrances: From Perfumer to Consumer, 2nd Edition, 2006
[2] https://www.epa.gov
[3] K. J. Hartmans, P. Diepenhorst, W. Bakker and L. G. M. Gorris, The use of carvone in agriculture: sprout suppression of potatoes and antifungal activity against potato tuber and other plant diseases, Industrial Crops and Products, 1995, vol. 4, 3-13 |
Chemical Properties |
clear colorless to pale yellow liquid |
Chemical Properties |
Caravone occurs in different forms. l-Carvone exhibits odor of spearmint, while d-carvone exhibits odor reminiscent of caraway. |
Occurrence |
R-Carvone is the main substance in spearmint oil, also present in toothpastes; it is the cause of delayed-type allergy resulting in cheilitis, but Hansson et al. also described a case of angioedema of the lips appearing within minutes after contact with toothpaste, with an open test resulting in an immediate and strong reaction to carvone. |
Definition |
ChEBI: A carvone having (R) configuration. |
Aroma threshold values |
Detection: d-Carvone: 6.7 to 820 ppb; l-carvone: 2.7 to 600 ppb |
Safety Profile |
Poison by intravenous route. Moderately toxic by ingestion. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. |
Chemical Synthesis |
Carvone occurs in the dextro, levo and racemic form; l-carvone can be isolated from the essential oil of spearmint or is commercially synthesized from d-limonene; d-carvone is usually prepared by fractional distillation of oil of caraway, also from dillseed and dillweed oils, but this type differs in odor and flavors. |