# Menthol in cigarettes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menthol-in-cigarettes/134565>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 30, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menthol-in-cigarettes/134565 "2002-10-30T17:02:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menthol-in-cigarettes/134565/1 "2002-10-30T17:02:01Z")

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Why is menthol added to cigarettes?

Just the flavor,or was it once believed it had some health effect ?

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menthol-in-cigarettes/134565/2 "2002-10-30T17:05:39Z")

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I believe it was once used to numb the back of your throat during a sickness (ie a sore throat). Now I think it is just personal preference.