p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol CAS#42822‑86‑6
p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol (PMD / menthoglycol) is an active ingredient for insect repellents. It has a menthol‑like scent and cooling sensation. It has eight isomers, and commercial products are usually a mixed isomer blend.
Refined oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) contains around 64% PMD, a combination of cis and trans isomers. It is notified under EU BPR Regulation (EU) No. 528/212. Registration is in progress with the UK HSE, and it is also registered with Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

p-Menthane-3,8-diol Chemical Properties |
Melting point | 82-83 °C |
Boiling point | 267.6±8.0 °C(Predicted) |
density | 1.009±0.06 g/cm3(Predicted) |
FEMA | 4053 | P-MENTHANE-3,8-DIOL |
storage temp. | Sealed in dry,Room Temperature |
solubility | Chloroform (Slightly), Methanol (Slightly) |
pka | 15.18±0.29(Predicted) |
form | Solid |
color | Off-White |
Odor | at 10.00 % in dipropylene glycol. minty herbal eucalyptus |
Odor Type | herbal |
JECFA Number | 1416 |
Cosmetics Ingredients Functions | SKIN CONDITIONING |
InChI | InChI=1S/C10H20O2/c1-7-4-5-8(9(11)6-7)10(2,3)12/h7-9,11-12H,4-6H2,1-3H3 |
InChIKey | LMXFTMYMHGYJEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
SMILES | C(C1CCC(C)CC1O)(O)(C)C |
LogP | 1.37 |
EPA Substance Registry System | p-Menthane-3,8-diol (42822-86-6) |
Product Application Of p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol CAS#42822‑86‑6
p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol, also called PMD or menthoglycol, is a well‑known bio‑based active repellent ingredient. It delivers mint‑menthol aroma and provides cooling sensation on skin. It can be formulated into sprays and lotions, applied on human skin and fabrics to repel mosquitoes, biting flies and gnats.
Product Basic Information
Basic Identifiers
Product Name: p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol
Synonyms: PMD, Menthoglycol, 2‑(2‑Hydroxypropan‑2‑yl)‑5‑Methylcyclohexanol
CAS: 42822‑86‑6
MF: C₁₀H₂₀O₂
MW: 172.27
EINECS: 255‑953‑7
Appearance: Off‑white crystalline solid
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): 1 FCL (Full Container Load)
Chemical & Physical Properties
Melting point: 82‑83 °C
Boiling point: 267.6 °C
Density: 1.009 g/cm³ (25℃)
Flash point: 120.7 °C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; soluble in ethanol
Storage temp: Store in sealed, dry place at room temperature
Stability: Stable under normal conditions
Odor: Minty, herbal eucalyptus‑like scent
Production Preparation Method
p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol can be obtained by two mainstream routes. One is semi‑synthesis: citronellal from lemon eucalyptus oil undergoes acid‑catalyzed cyclization reaction. The other is physical extraction and purification from refined lemon eucalyptus oil. Crude material is further recrystallized and filtered to get finished crystalline PMD with controlled isomer ratio of cis‑trans components.
Detailed Application Scenarios
Insect‑Repellent Personal‑care Formulations
It serves as DEET‑free bio‑active ingredient for outdoor repellent products. Suitable for making repellent sprays, skin lotions, and fabric‑applied repellents, effective against mosquitoes, biting flies and gnats. It brings mild cooling‑menthol feeling for skin‑contact products.
Cosmetic & Daily‑chemical Raw Material
Used in outdoor‑oriented personal care formulas. Its mint‑herbal note can also be used for fragrance adjustment in some topical care products.
Biocide Raw Material for Registration
PMD‑rich botanical oil has passed notification under EU BPR regulation. It can be supplied as technical material for customers to complete local biocidal product registration in EU, UK and Canada markets.
Upstream & Downstream Product Information
Upstream Raw Materials
Citronellal (lemon eucalyptus oil), acid catalyst, recrystallization solvent.
Downstream Derivatives
Repellent spray/lotion finished formulations, PMD‑rich botanical oil, custom repellent intermediate blends.
Safety & Handling Information
Low‑toxic biochemical active substance. May cause slight eye irritation.
Skin contact: Rinse with clean water.
Eye contact: Flush eyes with plenty of running water, seek medical help if irritation persists.
Operation suggestion: Wear standard chemical protective gloves and goggles.
Storage: Keep container tightly sealed, avoid moisture. Separated from strong oxidants.
Transport: Ordinary general chemical goods, non‑dangerous cargo.
Packaging & Transportation
Available Packaging Options
Solid bulk: 25 kg PE inner lined kraft paper bag
Ton‑bag: 500‑1000 kg jumbo bag for full‑container shipment
Lab sample: 500 g /1 kg sealed plastic container. Custom packaging available.
Delivery Cycle
Spot inventory order: 2‑3 working days
New customized production batch: 7‑10 working days
Full‑container sea shipment: Subject to container booking schedule.
Transport Requirement
Ordinary general chemical goods. Keep packages sealed against dampness. MSDS and batch COA documents are provided for each shipment.
After‑sales Service Support
Document service: Provide batch‑by‑batch COA, MSDS freely.
Technical support: Our team offers formulation reference, dosage suggestion and biocide‑registration related consultation within 24 working hours.
Quality complaint handling: If quality defect is confirmed after receiving goods, re‑delivery or exchange is available. Customers need to provide photos, videos and order info within 7 days after arrival. Damage caused by improper storage will not be covered, but technical guidance remains available.
Sample service: Test samples are available for lab evaluation before bulk purchase.
Customer Application Cases
Case 1: Outdoor personal‑care manufacturer
A daily‑chemical enterprise purchases our PMD technical material for producing DEET‑free mosquito‑repellent spray. The product meets EU biocide‑related raw‑material requirements.
Case 2: Biocide registration laboratory
Customers use our high‑purity p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol for completing local biocidal‑product registration dossier in European markets. Stable cis‑trans isomer ratio helps registration progress.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the difference between PMD and lemon eucalyptus essential oil?
A: PMD (p‑Menthane‑3,8‑diol) is the purified active repellent component. Raw lemon eucalyptus essential oil only contains low‑level PMD and cannot be directly used as repellent technical material.
Q2: What is the typical purity of commercial‑grade PMD?
A: Standard purity ≥98%. Custom isomer‑ratio grades can be produced upon request.
Q3: What is shelf‑life for storage?
A: 24 months under original sealed, cool and dry storage environment. Seal tightly once opened to prevent moisture absorption.
Q4: Can PMD be used directly on human skin?
A: PMD technical material cannot be directly applied to skin. It needs to be diluted and formulated into finished repellent products according to local regulatory standards.
Factory & Equipment Show
Our workshop is equipped with cyclization reaction unit, recrystallization and filtration system, drying and sealed filling equipment. Every batch undergoes strict lab testing before delivery to guarantee stable quality and consistent isomer composition.
Fast delivery time
Inventory 2‑3 working days New production 7‑10 working days









