Mentha arvensis, commonly known as corn mint, field mint, or wild mint, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family. It typically grows 10 to 60 cm tall, with erect or ascending stems that are square in cross-section and often branched. The small flowers are lilac, pale purple, or whitish, growing in dense whorls in the leaf axils. Unlike peppermint, which is a hybrid, corn mint is a true wild species with one of the broadest natural ranges of any mint, spanning much of Europe, Asia, and North America. Unlike the hybrid peppermint (Mentha × piperita), corn mint prefers damp habitats such as meadows, ditches, and riverbanks across temperate climate zones spanning nearly the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Precisely because it is so widespread and high-yielding, corn mint is the world's most important natural source of menthol: the crystalline menthol extracted from its oil goes into countless cough drops, toothpastes, and cold rubs, with India having been by far the largest producer for decades. In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant, known as Bo He, has for centuries been a staple herbal remedy for colds, headaches, and feverish heat, while European folk medicine traditionally used it to ease digestive complaints. To obtain crystalline menthol, the distilled oil is chilled sharply so that menthol crystals separate out and can be filtered off — a process carried out on an industrial scale chiefly in India and China. In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant is also applied externally in rubs against muscle tension and headaches, a use that lives on today in modern menthol-based balms. Incidentally, peppermint itself is botanically a cross between water mint and spearmint, while corn mint stands apart as one of the genus's other independent wild species. This botanical diversity explains why the various mint species can differ so noticeably in fragrance.

As an incense, Mentha arvensis is valued for its strong, fresh, minty, and herbaceous fragrance, derived from its high essential oil content, particularly menthol. The sharp, cooling aroma is known for its purifying and clarifying properties. Caution is advised as the essential oil is potent; it should be used in moderation, avoided during pregnancy, and kept away from young children.