The genus ‘Mentha’ was named after the Greek nymph Minthe. Legend has it that Minthe was the lover of Hades, the God of the Greek underworld. When Queen Persephone (Hades’s wife) heard of the affair, she metamorphosed Minthe, into the garden mint, which some call ‘hedyosmon’ (lit. 'sweet-smelling'). Some versions of the myth are much more gruesome and claim that Persephone killed Minthe in a fit of rage and jealousy and that Hades brought her back to life as a fragrant herb.
Peppermint has a long history of uses. Aristotle (circa 384-322 BCE) referenced peppermint in his writings as an aphrodisiac. Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) a king (‘basileus’) of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, forbade his soldiers to have peppermint because it was thought to promote erotic thoughts and deplete soldiers of the desire to fight.
Area of Origin Nea Risio, Thessaloniki
There are two main ways in which essential oils can be used – through inhalation or by skin application. We love our essential oils and would like you to enjoy them safely so, we have created some general recommendations on how to use essential oils and on their dosage. When in any doubt, please consult with a fully qualified and insured aromatherapy practitioner.
Some examples are for room vapourisation, add to your bath, add to your footbath, for massage, add to creams, lotions and gels.