Mint oil is a highly concentrated essence. In fact - one 55 gallon drum of mint oil (weighing about 400 pounds) can be used to flavor approximately 5,200,000 sticks of chewing gum or 400,000 tubes of toothpaste.

The genus Mentha is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region. Mint or Mintha, is named after the Greek nymph Minthes, who was turned into a mint plant by Proserpine, the jealous wife of Pluto, for casting covetous eyes on the philandering god of the underworld.

Proserpine gained her revenge by turning Minthes into a herb where she would be forever trampled under people's feet. To keep people treading on her forever, Proserpine gave Minthes eternal freshness and fragrance.