Dr. Segalla was the first cosmetic scientist to explore the benefits of a new molecule: Menthyl nicotinate (a vitamin B3 derivative) beneficial for skin and hair health. He developed and patented a manufacturing technology for its industrial production ensuring maximum purity and yield without using harmful solvents, without water waste for minimal environmental impact.

A sophisticated industrial synthesis apparatus was designed on Dr. Segalla’s indications to guarantee the complete respect of Multichem R&D’s patented technology and a Menthyl nicotinate of the highest quality.

Dr Segalla’s original idea was to synthesize a new molecular complex capable of performing a bivalent or “contradictory” cosmetic action, i.e. the same action resulting from the simultaneous contact of a hot and cold body with the skin, so as to produce a sort of pulsing, toning, and normalizing micro-massage to counter some common skin blemishes such as cellulitis, excessive loss of hair, tissue relaxation, etc.

Nicotinic acid (also called Vitamin B3 or Niacin), already known for efficiently activating cutaneous microcirculation (vasodilating effect), was chosen as the primary key reagent.

In 1993 Dr Segalla identified a method to produce the first few grams of a mixture (with the INCI Name: Menthyl Nicotinate, Menthol) named at first Cryotermol and, later on, Nicoment.

A quantum leap from mixture to single molecule.

In 2013, Dr. Segalla's developed and patented a new technology to produce a highly purified Menthyl nicotinate.

The new active ingredient was presented to the cosmetic market with the trade name Nicomenthyl®.

Unlike Cryotermol and Nicoment, Nicomenthyl® is not a mixture but a pure substance with one single INCI name, MENTHYL NICOTINATE, and one single CAS number 40594-65-8.

Today, Nicomentyl has come a long way and expanded into a full range of ingredients going from the pure substance (Nicomenthyl 20) to a series a sensorial actives (Nicomenthyl Hot/Fresh/Cool) and the recently launched phyto-synergy Nicomenthyl TAO.