What Are The Common Cooling Agents?

• Product Characteristics

✅ High Explosive Impact: Capable of generating an instant and powerful cooling surge; it is the fastest-acting cooling agent available.

✅ Distinct Aroma: Features a rich, potent minty fragrance that is highly recognizable.

✅ Limitations: Highly volatile with a short duration (10–15 minutes). At high concentrations, it produces a sharp stinging/burning sensation and a bitter taste. Its strong scent can easily overpower the product's original flavor.

• Applications

Primarily used in toothpaste, medicated oils, and mint candies where a minty scent is a requirement.

• Product Characteristics

✅ Flavor Neutral: Almost odorless and tasteless; it does not interfere with the product’s intended aroma or flavor profile.

✅ Sensation Area: The cooling effect is primarily concentrated on the front of the mouth, the tongue surface, and the upper palate.

✅ Heat Stability: Features excellent stability and can withstand high-temperature processing (above 200°C).

• Applications

Widely used in E-liquids, various beverages, chewing gums, gummies, and food products requiring a "pure cold sensation."

• Product Characteristics

✅ Ultra Intensity: Its cooling intensity is approximately 3 to 4 times that of menthol, making it one of the strongest synthetic cooling agents known.

✅ Cooling Quality: Provides an extremely pure and deep cold sensation without the stinging or irritating "punch" associated with menthol.

• Applications

Products requiring an "extreme ice" physical experience, such as extra-strong throat lozenges, high-end liquid-core (pop-bead) candies, and specific medicinal sprays.

• Product Characteristics

✅ Ultra-long Persistence: The cooling duration is exceptionally long—often several times that of menthol—with a steady and smooth release.

✅ Excellent Safety: Extremely low irritation to the skin and mucous membranes; it does not cause numbness or burning.

✅ Sensation Area: The sensation extends primarily to the root of the tongue and the throat.

• Applications

Used in long-acting mouthwashes, toothpastes, high-performance skincare (e.g., after-sun repair), and luxury cosmetics..

WS-3 is one of the most classic and long-standing cooling agents in the WS series, often serving as the benchmark for measuring the performance of other synthetic cooling agents.

• Product Characteristics

✅ Sensation Area: The cooling effect primarily impacts the back of the mouth, the throat, and the root of the tongue.

✅ Longevity: It is significantly more persistent than menthol, typically maintaining a cooling sensation for 20 to 30 minutes.

✅ Flavor Profile: Although it is a derivative of menthol, it has almost none of the sharp, medicinal, or spicy notes of mint, causing minimal impact on the product's original flavor.

✅ Stability: It possesses excellent thermal stability and does not degrade under standard processing temperatures.

• Applications

✅ Oral Care: Mouthwashes and toothpastes (providing long-lasting freshness).

✅ Confectionery: Chewing gums, chocolates, and hard candies.

✅ Pharmaceuticals: Throat lozenges or sprays used to relieve throat discomfort.

WS-27 is a relatively newer and well-balanced cooling agent, often regarded as an enhanced version of WS-23.

• Product Characteristics

✅ Cooling Experience: The sensation is exceptionally pure and gentle, without significant stinging or burning sensations.

✅ Sensation Area: Similar to WS-23, it mainly acts on the front of the mouth, the tongue surface, and the upper palate, but the overall physical sensation is more "three-dimensional" than WS-23.

✅ High Solubility: Compared to WS-3, WS-27 has better solubility in water and certain solvents, making it easier to incorporate into formulations.

✅ Odorless and Tasteless: It is almost entirely odorless and tasteless, ensuring it does not interfere with the high-end aromas of food or cosmetics.

• Applications

✅ Premium Beverages: Sparkling waters and functional drinks (providing a clean cold sensation).

✅ Cosmetics: Soothing sprays and eye care products (due to its extreme mildness).

✅ Innovative Foods: Frozen desserts and high-end liquid-core (pop-bead) candies.

Camphor is a bicyclic ketone compound naturally found in camphor trees or produced synthetically.

• Product Characteristics

✅ Dual Sensory Experience: It creates a cooling sensation at low concentrations. At higher concentrations or with repeated application, it can produce a warming sensation or even a slight numbing effect.

✅ Strong Odor: It possesses a highly recognizable, pungent, and penetrating scent.

✅ Pharmacological Activity: It has mild antipruritic (anti-itch), analgesic (pain-relieving), and antibacterial properties.

• Applications

It is widely used in medicinal products like anti-itch creams and muscle ache ointments (e.g., Tiger Balm). It is also found in oil-control conditioners for men, though it is rarely used in facial skincare due to its heavy scent.

Menthyl Lactate

• Product Characteristics

✅ Mild & Gentle: Provides a soft cooling sensation with a slow-release mechanism, completely lacking the harsh "head-rush" of menthol.

✅ Skin-Friendly: Highly compatible with the skin; it is one of the least irritating menthol derivatives.

✅ Faint Odor: Carries a very weak minty scent, ensuring it does not interfere with delicate fragrance formulations.

• Applications

Extensively used in personal care products, such as skincare lotions, shaving creams, shower gels, and sunscreens.

Eucalyptol

• Product Characteristics

✅ Refreshing and Breathable: It provides a sensation of "opening the airways," accompanied by a strong herbal and camphoraceous aroma.

✅ Multifunctional: It possesses significant anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antiseptic properties.

• Applications

It is a core ingredient in mouthwashes (like Listerine) for sterilization and long-lasting freshness. It is also used in throat lozenges, inhalants, and ointments for nasal congestion.

Name

Type

Intensity (vs. Menthol)

Duration

Primary Sensation Area

Flavor & Odor Profile

Main Applications

Menthol

Natural/ Synthetic

100 (Baseline)

Short (10-15m)

Full Mouth / Skin

Strong minty aroma; pungent/burning at high doses

Toothpaste, medicated balms, mints

WS-23

Synthetic

75

Medium

Front mouth, Tongue

Nearly odorless and tasteless

E-liquids, beverages, gummies

WS-5

Synthetic

350 - 400

Long

Throat, Upper palate

Extremely faint odor; pure and deep cold

Power lozenges, premium pop-beads

WS-12

Synthetic

200

Ultra-Long

Throat, Tongue root, Skin

Tasteless; very low irritation; very gentle

Long-acting mouthwash, luxury skincare

WS-3

Synthetic

150

Long (20-30m)

Back mouth, Throat

Very faint minty note; crisp freshness

Oral care, chewing gum, pharma

WS-27

Synthetic

120

Medium-Long

Front mouth, Palate

Odorless and tasteless; smooth/3D feel

Premium drinks, mild skincare

Menthyl Lactate

Ester Derivative

Low

Fairly Long

Skin, Mucosa

Almost odorless; gentle with no "hit"

Sunscreens, lotions, shaving cream

Camphor

Natural/ Synthetic

Low/Medium

Medium

Skin, Respiratory tract

Strong medicinal scent; dual cool/warm feel

Anti-itch creams, muscle rubs

Eucalyptol

Natural Extract

Medium

Short-Medium

Respiratory tract, Nasal

Strong herbal/woody; "breathable" feel

Mouthwash, lozenges, nasal balms