Carvone: properties, uses, pros, cons, safety

Carvone is a monoterpene ketone with the formula C₁₀H₁₄O and a molecular weight of about 150.22 g/mol. It is particularly interesting because it exists in two enantiomers with different olfactory profiles: (R)-(-)-carvone is associated mainly with the aroma of spearmint (Mentha spicata), while (S)-(+)-carvone is typical of caraway (Carum carvi) and dill (Anethum graveolens). For this reason, Carvone is used mainly as a flavouring and fragrance substance in foods, oral care, perfumery, and cosmetics.

Description

This is a raw material of interest in both the food and cosmetic sectors, unlike many ingredients used exclusively in personal care. From a chemical standpoint, it belongs to the family of oxygenated terpenoids and is a relatively small, volatile, lipophilic molecule capable of giving aromatic notes that can range from fresh minty to caraway-like/spicy, depending on its stereochemical configuration. This difference between enantiomers is one of the classic cases in which the same molecular formula generates a very different sensory perception.

In industrial practice, Carvone is important not for any nutritional role, but for its function as a flavouring agent, fragrance component, and in some cases a sensory modifier in oral hygiene products. It is also relevant because, in the current European cosmetic framework, it is among the substances that must be considered carefully from the standpoint of skin sensitization and label declaration.

Production Process

Carvone can be obtained from natural sources or by synthesis. The natural route generally starts from essential oils rich in Carvone, especially from spearmint, caraway seeds, and dill seeds, through extraction/distillation of the essential oil followed by purification and, when necessary, fractionation to enrich the desired isomer. The starting raw materials are therefore the aromatic plant parts or seeds from which the essential oils containing the compound are obtained.

On the industrial side, Carvone can also be produced through chemical or biotechnological transformation of other terpenes, especially limonene, which is one of the most frequently cited intermediates in the synthesis route. This point is important because the market may distinguish between Carvone isolated from natural sources and Carvone obtained by conversion/synthesis, with differences relating to raw material origin, enantiomeric purity, and commercial positioning.

Key Constituents Present

In the case of the pure substance, the reference compound is Carvone itself. However, from a technical point of view, it is correct to note that there may be three commercial/regulatory references: the racemate and the two separate enantiomers. In practice, when Carvone is derived from a natural essential oil, the source material often also contains other representative terpenes such as limonene, dihydrocarvone, and, in the case of spearmint oil, compounds such as 1,8-cineole or small amounts of other monoterpenes. For this reason, it is important to distinguish between the pure molecule and the source essential oil.

Identification Data And Specifications

Indicative Physicochemical Properties

These values are indicative and may show slight variations depending on commercial grade, purity, and the enantiomer considered.

Food

In the food sector, Carvone is used mainly as a flavouring substance. Its use is well known in products with a mint, caraway, or dill profile, in candies, chewing gum, confectionery, sweet sauces, and other preparations where a characteristic fresh or spicy note is desired. The FEMA documentation lists it as a flavour substance with FEMA No. 2249, JECFA No. 380, and the regulatory reference 21 CFR 182.60, with reported use levels in various food categories.

From a technical standpoint, it does not provide any meaningful nutritional contribution: its value is almost entirely sensory. In practice, it is used at low dosages to shape the aromatic profile of the product and to reinforce minty or spicy notes without necessarily using large quantities of the whole essential oil.

Cosmetics

In cosmetics and oral care products, Carvone is used mainly as a fragrance/flavour ingredient. It is particularly relevant in toothpastes, mouthwashes, breath-freshening products, mint-flavoured perfumes, and some aromatic compositions for hair care and personal care. According to the available EFSA opinion, overall oral exposure is significantly derived precisely from personal care products and flavourings.

From the European regulatory point of view, Carvone has been included among the fragrance allergens in Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation. Its presence must be declared in the ingredient list when it exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products. In addition, the transitional period provided by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 allows the placing on the market of products not yet compliant until July 31, 2026, and their making available on the market until July 31, 2028.

Identified INGREDIENTS or substances: 2-methyl-5-(prop- 1-en-2-yl)cyclohex- 2-en-1-one;(5R)- 2-Methyl-5-prop- 1-en-2-ylcyclohex- 2-en-1-one;(5S)- 2-Methyl-5-prop- 1-en-2-ylcyclohex- 2-en-1-one

INCI Functions

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.

Pros

• It Is a highly effective flavouring substance, with strong sensory impact even at low dosage.
• The presence of two enantiomers with different odors offers good formulation flexibility between minty and spicy/caraway-like notes.
• It Can be obtained both from natural sources and by synthesis, offering different industrial sourcing options.
• It Is used in foods, oral care, and cosmetics, so it has broader application versatility than many fragrance ingredients used only in cosmetics.
• In technical contexts it has also been studied for additional uses, for example as a bioactive compound or as a sprout suppressant in potatoes, showing that it is a molecule of broad applied interest.

Cons

• It Has no relevant nutritional role: its use is almost exclusively sensory/functional.
• In cosmetics it must now also be considered a fragrance allergen with labeling obligations above threshold.
• The presence of different isomers requires attention, because origin, odor, and sometimes commercial use change depending on the optical form.
• In sensitized individuals it may cause contact or oral mucosal problems, especially in products such as toothpaste and other mint-flavoured preparations.
• Like many concentrated odor substances, it requires careful control of purity, dosage, and supplier documentation.

Safety, Regulatory Aspects, And Environment

From a safety standpoint, Carvone should not be evaluated only as a “pleasant aromatic” molecule, but also as a substance that may have allergological relevance. The literature and SCCS documents report cases of contact sensitization, including cases linked to mint-flavoured products and toothpastes. In particular, there are clinical reports of cheilitis and oral/perioral lesions in sensitized individuals exposed to Carvone in oral hygiene products.

From the cosmetic regulatory perspective, the most important point today is its inclusion in Annex III of the European regulation as a fragrance allergen that must be specifically indicated on the label above the threshold. This does not mean that Carvone is prohibited, but that its presence must be made transparent in order to protect sensitized consumers. As of April 28, 2026, the sector is still within the transitional period preceding the first deadline of July 31, 2026 for new products placed on the market.

From an environmental and production-technical point of view, the assessment depends greatly on the origin of the Carvone, the process used to obtain it, and the final matrix in which it is used. The compound is naturally derived in many supply chains, but this does not automatically remove the need for controls on purity, stability, impurities, and the toxicological profile of the finished product.

Conclusion

Carvone is a substance of considerable technical interest because it combines simple chemistry, strong sensory impact, and a variety of applications. Its main value emerges in the food, oral care, and cosmetic sectors, where it functions mainly as a flavour and fragrance component. Its most important feature is the presence of two enantiomers with different odors, an aspect that directly influences sourcing, use, and perception of the final product.

From a practical standpoint, today the central issue is not so much its aromatic functionality — which is well established — but the correct management of origin, purity, stereochemical form, and above all the cosmetic regulatory obligations linked to labeling it as a fragrance allergen. In a technical report, these are the points that deserve the greatest attention.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Bouyahya A, Mechchate H, Benali T, Ghchime R, Charfi S, Balahbib A, Burkov P, Shariati MA, Lorenzo JM, Omari NE. Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Carvone. Biomolecules. 2021 Dec 1;11(12):1803. doi: 10.3390/biom11121803. 

Abstract. Carvone is a monoterpene ketone contained in the essential oils of several aromatic and medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families. From aromatic plants, this monoterpene is secreted at different concentrations depending on the species, the parts used, and the extraction methods. Currently, pharmacological investigations showed that carvone exhibits multiple pharmacological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antineuraminidase, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. These studies were carried out in vitro and in vivo and involved a great deal of knowledge on the mechanisms of action. Indeed, the antimicrobial effects are related to the action of carvone on the cell membrane and to ultrastructural changes, while the anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects involve the action on cellular and molecular targets such as inducing of apoptosis, autophagy, and senescence. With its multiple mechanisms, carvone can be considered as natural compounds to develop therapeutic drugs. However, other investigations regarding its precise mechanisms of action as well as its acute and chronic toxicities are needed to validate its applications. Therefore, this review discusses the principal studies investigating the pharmacological properties of carvone, and the mechanism of action underlying some of these properties. Moreover, further investigations of major pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies were also suggested.

Krajewska A, Azeez G, Ebadollahi A, Kalemba D, Synowiec A. Carvone-Rich Essential Oils and Their Agrobiological Interactions: A Review. Molecules. 2026 Feb 7;31(4):579. doi: 10.3390/molecules31040579.

Abstract. Carvone-rich essential oils (EOs), and carvone specifically, exhibit a broad spectrum of protective effects against major agricultural threats. They display strong antifungal and moderate antibacterial effects, effectively inhibiting numerous phytopathogenic fungi. EOs exhibit significant insecticidal, acaricidal, and repellent activity against various insects and mites, and some EOs are highly effective against agricultural nematodes, suppressing mobility and egg hatching. Crucially, the EOs demonstrate a strong capacity to suppress the germination and initial growth of different weed species, highlighting their viability as natural herbicides. This review analyzes the chemical composition, biological effects, and potential agricultural applications of carvone and carvone-rich essential oils, primarily sourced from Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae), Carum carvi (Apiaceae), and Anethum graveolens (Apiaceae). The biological activity of these EOs is significantly influenced by their specific composition, which varies among plant species and chemotypes. While EOs' inherent volatility limits direct field application, this challenge is being successfully addressed by innovative formulation technologies, such as nanoemulsification and encapsulation, which enhance stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery. In conclusion, carvone-rich EOs offer effective, environmentally low-risk agents for the integrated management of pathogens, pests, and weeds in sustainable agriculture. They help reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and minimize the potential for resistance development.

Kanekar S, Fathima F, Rekha PD. Carvone - a quorum sensing inhibitor blocks biofilm formation in Chromobacterium violaceum. Nat Prod Res. 2022 Sep;36(17):4546-4551. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1993214. 

Abstract. Carvone is a natural monoterpenoid and in this study it was tested for its role in attenuating quorum sensing (QS) controlled biofilm formation in Chromobacterium violaceum. It showed significant QS inhibition in terms of reduction in violacein at a concentration range of 60 to 70 µg/mL against C. violaceum ATCC 12472. At the same concentration, carvone also inhibited biofilm formation by more than 80%. The biofilm morphology of C. violaceum is unique with a well organised pattern of cell arrangement in a tight matrix. The same was evident in Scanning electron microscopy, however, carvone treatment not only showed reduction in biofilm density but also disruption of biofilm matrix. Interruption of biofilm formation was attributed to reduction in the exopolysaccharide production and swarming motility. Molecular investigations (RT-PCR) showed that the important genes involved in biofilm regulation such as pilS, pilR, pilB and pilT were downregulated significantly in the treatment groups.

Abbas MM, Kandil Yİ, Abbas MA. R-(-)-carvone Attenuated Doxorubicin Induced Cardiotoxicity In Vivo and Potentiated Its Anticancer Toxicity In Vitro. Balkan Med J. 2020 Feb 28;37(2):98-103. doi: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2019.2019.7.117.

Abstract. Background: Doxorubicin is one of the most potent broad-spectrum antitumor and chemotherapeutic agents. However, it produces cardiotoxicity. Aims: To investigate whether R-(-)-carvone exerts a cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Study design: Cell culture and animal experiment. Methods: The synergistic effect of R-(-)-carvone with doxorubicin was evaluated in the MCF 7 cancer cell line while its protective effect against doxorubicin toxicity was evaluated in the normal heart cell line (H9C2) and in vivo. Furthermore, the mechanism of its cardioprotective effect was studied. Results: R-(-)-carvone exerted cytotoxic action on the MCF 7 cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 14.22 μM and potentiated the cytotoxic action of doxorubicin, while it decreased the toxicity of doxorubicin on a normal heart cell line. In BALB/c mice, R-(-)-carvone protected the heart from the toxic action of doxorubicin, as was evident by biochemical and histological studies. The protective effect of R-(-)-carvone on the H9C2 heart cell line and on heart in vivo was due to an increase in catalase activity. Conclusion: R-(-)-carvone has synergistic anticancer action with doxorubicin on the MCF 7 cell line while decreasing its cardiotoxicity.

Kroona L, Ahlgren C, Dahlin J, Isaksson M, Bruze M. Use test with l-carvone in toothpaste on sensitized individuals. Contact Dermatitis. 2023 Jun;88(6):463-471. doi: 10.1111/cod.14302. Epub 2023 Mar 16. PMID: 36929649.