Menthol-Containing Solids Composition

1 . Menthol-containing solids composition comprising:

(a) a solid menthol component including bodies having a menthol content of 95 wt. % or more, based on the total weight of the bodies, and

(b) a solid anticaking agent, including particles having a particle size of not more than 100 μm,

wherein particles of the anticaking agent adhere to a surface of the bodies of the solid menthol component,

wherein the solid anticaking agent is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

mannitol,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Al, Ca, K, Na, Mg or NH 4 + salts of edible fatty acids,

or mixtures thereof,

and wherein the content of the solid anticaking agent is not more than 8 wt. % and the content of the solid menthol component is at least 91 wt. %, in each case based on the total weight of the solids composition.

2 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 ,

wherein the solid anticaking agent is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Ca, K or Na salts of edible fatty acids,

or mixtures thereof.

3 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 , wherein the bodies of the solid menthol component include between 0 and 1% of inorganic constituents, based on the total weight of the bodies.

4 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 , wherein the bodies of the solid menthol component are in the form of crystals, prills, flakes, pressed pieces, pastilles, granules, powders and/or dust.

5 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 , wherein the bodies of the menthol component do not contain surfactants, do not contain

peppermint oil on their surface and

include not more than 0.2 wt. % of water, based on the total weight of the solids composition.

6 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 , wherein particles of the solid anticaking agent adhere to and cover the surface of the bodies of the solid menthol component such that the sublimation capacity or the vapour pressure of the solid menthol from the bodies of the menthol component at 25° C. under 1,013 mbar is reduced by at least 25% compared with the pure menthol component (a).

7 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 , wherein the content of the solid anticaking agent in the solids composition is not more than 4 wt. %, based on the total weight of the solids composition.

8 . (canceled)

9 . Menthol-containing solids composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a product which is suitable for consumption, smoking, a tobacco, a perfume or fragrance an oral hygiene product, a cosmetic, a pharmaceutical or dermatological product or an encapsulated material.

10 . Sugar-coated product which is suitable for consumption, having a coating comprising:

(a) solid menthol bodies; and

(b) a solid anticaking agent, including particles having a particle size of not more than 100 μm,

wherein the solid anticaking agent is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

mannitol,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Al, Ca, K, Na, Mg or NH 4 + salts of edible fatty acids

or mixtures thereof,

wherein in at least one layer of the coating the content of a solid anticaking agent is not more than 8 wt. %, based on the total weight of components (a) and (b).

11 . Glass-type flavor particles comprising at least 3.5 wt. %, preferably at least 5 wt. % of menthol, based on the finished glass-type flavor particles, and a solid anticaking agent, wherein the solid anticaking agent is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

mannitol,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Al, Ca, K, Na, Mg or NH 4 + salts of edible fatty acids,

or mixtures thereof.

12 . A menthol-containing solids composition product which is suitable for consumption, smoking, a tobacco product, a perfume or fragrance, a flavouring agent, an oral hygiene product, a cosmetic, a pharmaceutical or dermatological product or an encapsulated menthol-containing solids compositions comprising:

(a) a solid menthol component including bodies having a menthol content of 95 wt. % or more, based on the total weight of the bodies, and

(b) a solid anticaking agent, including particles having a particle size of not more than 100 μm,

wherein particles of the anticaking agent adhere to a surface of the bodies of the solid menthol component,

wherein the solid anticaking agent is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

mannitol,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Al, Ca, K, Na, Mg or NH 4 + salts of edible fatty acids,

or mixtures thereof,

and wherein the content of the solid anticaking agent is not more than 8 wt. % and the content of the solid menthol component is at least 91 wt. %, in each case based on the total weight of the solids composition.

13 . A method for preparing menthol-containing solids composition comprising; (a) a solid menthol component including bodies having a menthol content of 95 wt. % or more, based on the total weight of the bodies, and

(b) a solid anticaking agent, including particles having a particle size of not more than 100 μm,

wherein particles of the anticaking agent adhere to a surface of the bodies of the solid menthol component,

wherein the solid anticaking agent is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

mannitol,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Al, Ca, K, Na, Mg or NH 4 + salts of edible fatty acids,

or mixtures thereof,

comprising the step of

mixing

(a) said solid menthol containing solids composition exhibiting a menthol content of 95 wt. % or more, based on the total weight of the bodies, and

(b) said solid anticaking agent, exhibiting particles having a particle size of not more than 100 μm, until particles of the solid anticaking agent adhere to the surface of the bodies of the menthol component,

wherein the content of the solid anticaking agent is not more than 4 wt. % and the content of the menthol component is at least 95 wt. %, in each case based on the total weight of the solids composition prepared.

14 . A method of reducing or preventing sublimation of menthol and caking of bodies of a solid menthol component having a menthol content of 95 wt. % or more based on the total weight of the bodies, by adding a solid anticaking agent that is

calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,

magnesium hydroxycarbonate,

magnesium oxide,

mixtures of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide,

mannitol,

calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, talc,

polydimethylsiloxane,

Al, Ca, K, Na, Mg or NH 4 + salts of edible fatty acids

or mixtures thereof, to the solid menthol component.