What’s the Difference Between WS-5 and WS-3?

For food, beverage, and cosmetic formulators, choosing between cooling agent WS-5 and cooling agent WS-3 can make or break a product's sensory appeal. Both are synthetic, TRPM8-activated cooling agents (no mint flavor, low irritation)-but their differences in coolness intensity, duration, stability, and cost mean they excel in distinct applications. As a leading wholesale manufacturer and supplier of WS-5 and WS-3 cooling agents, we've created this data-driven guide to break down their key differences, help you choose the right one for your formulation, and explain why our high-purity variants stand out for B2B clients.​

1. First: What Are WS-3 and WS-5? A Quick Primer​

Before diving into differences, it's critical to align on what these cooling agents are-and why they're popular:​

• Both WS-3 (N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide) and WS-5 (N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide) are synthetic derivatives of menthane, designed to trigger the TRPM8 "cooling receptor" in the mouth, throat, and skin.​
• Unlike natural menthol, they have no minty flavor or odor-making them ideal for products where mint would clash with other tastes (e.g., citrus soda, berry gum).​
• Both are globally approved (FDA GRAS, EU EFSA) for use in food, beverages, and cosmetics-with no linked health risks at recommended doses (EFSA, 2021; FDA, 2018).​

Their shared benefits make them go-to choices for "clean label" and "long-lasting coolness" claims-but their unique traits set them apart.​

2. Key Differences Between WS-3 and WS-5: A Side-by-Side Comparison​

The biggest differences between cooling agent WS-3 and cooling agent WS-5 lie in their sensory performance, stability, and cost. Below is a detailed breakdown using data from peer-reviewed studies and our in-house testing:​

​Data sources: EFSA 2021, FDA 2018, Smith et al. 2022 (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry), in-house testing 2024​

3. Deep Dive: Why These Differences Matter for Your Formulation​

Each difference directly impacts how WS-3 and WS-5 perform in real-world products. Below's how to apply this to your specific use case:​

3.1 Coolness Intensity & Duration: Match to Consumer Expectations​

• Choose WS-3 if you need moderate, fast coolness:​

WS-3's quick onset (30 seconds) and 3–5 minute duration work best for products where "freshness" (not intense chill) is key.​

1. Example: A gum brand used our WS-3 cooling agent (0.1% dosage) for a "Light Fresh" line-consumers praised its "subtle, non-overpowering coolness" (Mintel 2023 consumer survey).​
2. Ideal Applications: Mild mint gum, iced tea, yogurt, basic lip balm.​

• Choose WS-5 if you need intense, long-lasting coolness:​

WS-5's slow onset (1–2 minutes) and 6–8 minute duration make it perfect for products where "sustained refreshment" drives sales.​

1. Example: A sports drink brand added our WS-5 cooling agent (0.08% dosage) to their electrolyte drink-testers reported "coolness that lasts through a 30-minute workout" (case study, 2024).​
2. Ideal Applications: Sports drinks, sugar-free hard candies, after-sun lotion, long-lasting gum.​

3.2 Stability: Fit for Your Production Process​

• WS-3: Best for low-to-moderate heat processes (e.g., mixing at 150°C, cold-fill beverages). It degrades in highly acidic products (pH <3.5, e.g., lemon juice with pH 2.5)-avoid these formulations.​
• WS-5: Shines in high-heat or extreme pH applications. Its stability at 180°C works for baking (e.g., cool mint cookies), and pH 3.0 tolerance makes it ideal for citrus sodas (pH 2.8–3.2) or alkaline haircare products (pH 8.5).​

Research Backing: A 2022 study in Food Chemistry found that WS-5 retained 95% of its cooling efficacy after 30 minutes at 180°C, while WS-3 retained only 80% (Rodriguez et al., 2022).​

3.3 Solubility: Ensure Uniform Coolness​

• WS-3: Moderate oil solubility means it works in oil-based products (e.g., lip balm, chocolate) but may need a solubilizer (e.g., polysorbate 80) for clear water-based drinks (to avoid cloudiness).​
• WS-5: Higher oil solubility and moderate water solubility eliminate the need for extra solubilizers-saving time and cost in formulations like clear sparkling water or water-based serums.​

3.4 Cost: Balance Performance & Budget​

WS-3 is 30–40% cheaper than WS-5, making it the better choice for cost-sensitive, high-volume products (e.g., value-tier gum, mass-market toothpaste). WS-5 justifies its higher cost for premium products where "long-lasting, intense coolness" is a key selling point (e.g., luxury skincare, premium sports drinks).​

4. Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Both WS-3 and WS-5 Are Trusted​

While they differ in performance, WS-3 and WS-5 cooling agents share identical safety profiles-critical for B2B clients avoiding regulatory risk:​

4.1 Global Approval​

• FDA GRAS: WS-3 (GRN No. 485, 2010) and WS-5 (GRN No. 921, 2020) are both "Generally Recognized as Safe" for food, beverages, and cosmetics.​
• EU EFSA: EFSA set Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI) of 1.5 mg/kg body weight for WS-3 and 2.0 mg/kg for WS-5-meaning a 70kg adult can safely consume 105mg (WS-3) or 140mg (WS-5) daily (EFSA, 2021).​
• China GB Standards: Both are permitted in food (GB 2760) and cosmetics (GB 7916) with no usage restrictions beyond ADI limits.​

4.2 Irritation Risk​

Neither WS-3 nor WS-5 causes tingling, burning, or skin irritation-even at 2x recommended doses. A 2023 dermatological study tested 0.5% concentrations of both agents on sensitive skin: 0% of participants reported irritation, vs. 15% for natural menthol (Garcia et al., 2023).​

5. Our Wholesale WS-3 & WS-5 Cooling Agents: What Sets Us Apart​

As a B2B supplier, we prioritize the qualities that matter most to formulators: consistency, purity, and support. Our WS-3 and WS-5 cooling agents are engineered to eliminate common pain points (e.g., batch-to-batch variation, solubility issues):​

5.1 Product Specifications​

​5.2 Quality Assurance​

• Purity Testing: Every batch is tested via HPLC to confirm ≥99% purity (WS-3) and ≥99.5% purity (WS-5)-no impurities that could dull coolness or cause off-flavors.​
• Sensory Consistency: Our in-house sensory panel tests each batch for coolness intensity (on a 1–5 scale) to ensure uniformity-critical for products like gum, where "consistent fresh" is key.​
• Contaminant Screening: Heavy metals (lead, arsenic <0.1 ppm) and solvent residues (ethanol <5 ppm) are strictly prohibited-verified via ICP-MS and GC-MS.​

5.3 B2B Support for Your Formulations​

• Free Samples: Request 100g samples of WS-3 or WS-5 to test in your product (e.g., sports drink, after-sun lotion). We include a detailed CoA (Certificate of Analysis) with every sample.​
• Technical Consultations: Our food scientists help you:​

1. Choose between WS-3/WS-5 based on your product (e.g., "WS-5 for citrus soda, WS-3 for basic gum").​
2. Optimize dosage (e.g., 0.05% WS-5 for sports drinks, 0.1% WS-3 for toothpaste).​
3. Solve solubility issues (e.g., recommending solubilizers for WS-3 in clear drinks).​

• Bulk Supply: We offer 1kg to 50,000kg orders with 3–5 day lead times. Volume discounts start at 100kg-save 10% on WS-3 and 15% on WS-5 for orders over 500kg.​

6. References​

1. FDA. (2010). GRAS Notification for WS-3 (N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide) (GRN No. 485). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.​
2. FDA. (2020). GRAS Notification for WS-5 (N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide) (GRN No. 921). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.​
3. EFSA. (2021). Scientific Opinions on the Safety of WS-3 and WS-5 as Food Additives. EFSA Journal, 19(5), 6590; 19(8), 6623.​
4. Smith, J. D., et al. (2022). Sensory and Chemical Comparison of Synthetic Cooling Agents WS-3 and WS-5. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 70(12), 3645–3654.​
5. Rodriguez, M., et al. (2022). Heat Stability of WS-3 and WS-5 in Baked and Pasteurized Products. Food Chemistry, 380, 132256.​
6. Garcia, L., et al. (2023). Irritation Potential of Synthetic Cooling Agents in Sensitive Skin. Contact Dermatitis, 88(3), 215–221.​
7. Mintel. (2023). Global Cooling Agents Market Report for Food & Beverages. Mintel Group Ltd.​

7. Conclusion & Next Steps​

The choice between cooling agent WS-3 and cooling agent WS-5 boils down to your product's goals:​

• Choose WS-3 for cost-effective, moderate, fast-acting coolness (ideal for value-tier gum, basic beverages, and low-heat formulations).​
• Choose WS-5 for intense, long-lasting coolness and broad stability (perfect for premium sports drinks, high-heat baked goods, and extreme pH products).​

As your trusted wholesale supplier, we don't just sell WS-3 and WS-5-we help you make the right choice for your formulation, avoid costly mistakes, and deliver products that consumers love. Our high-purity, consistent cooling agents are backed by rigorous testing and global regulatory compliance-so you can focus on growing your brand.​

Contact us today to:​

• Request free samples of our WS-3 or WS-5 cooling agents.​
• Get a customized bulk quote based on your order volume.​
• Consult our team on which cooling agent fits your product (e.g., "Do I need WS-3 or WS-5 for my citrus soda?").​

Let's turn sensory coolness into your product's competitive edge-together.