Wakeham Menthol (SGDoc 1962)

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The origins of the menthol cigarette

1962 April 20 Helmut Wakeham, the head of science and development at Philip Morris wrote this CONFIDENTIAL letter to CV Mace (unknown research chemist) about the company

Policy regarding the "Tar Derby"

The 'tar' in a cigarette is measured as TPM (total particulate matter). The "Tar Derby" was the industry nickname for the publication of nicotine and TPM ratings of the various brands of cigarettes. This had been done occasionally (over strong objection from the companies) by US health agencies in an effort to persuade smokers to choose less dangerous brands.

Here are my thoughts on a policy the company might follow as a result of the reopening of the smoking and health question in Great Britain.

First, since there is a chance, slight though it may be, that excessive cigarette smoking may lead to a greater incidence of degenerative diseases in humans, and this in turn to a lessening in the use of cigarettes, I think we should diversity our business at a more rapid rate than we are doing.

Note his priorities. He is only concerned about the potential loss of sales.

Second, if the "Tar Derby" starts up again in the United States, I think we should try to be the first to market a cigarette delivering considerably less (than the average delivered by all the major filter cigarettes on the market today) of one or more of those substances (whether in particulate or in the gas phase) that have been reported to be irritating to the human skin or mucous membrane.

If this cannot be carried out by selective filtration (whether from the particulate or from the gas phase), but only by across-the-board filtration, then it is suggested that some exotic flavor such as menthol be added to take the place of the reduced tobacco flavor which may surely result from such high filtration.

In other words: if reducing the tar level creates a cigarette with no tobacco flavor, then we will load it up with menthol - and advertise it as a healthier brand.

I do not think it is worthwhile reducing the delivered TPM in an across-the-board fashion unless we have a purpose in mind; such as, for example, it is the only method we have for reducing one of those irritating ingredients in the smoke. There may be some substances we could remove selectively in the gas phase after an across-the-board reduction in TPM if we placed the gas phase filter behind the TPM filter so as to minimize the poisoning of the former by the TPM.

Note that Philip Morris, even at this late stage, had done so little biological research that they didn't know whether to reduce the particulate components, or the gaseous components.

He then suggests a series of trials to identify and reduce the "irritating substances" in different grades and types of tobacco. He also wants to beef up their search for an additive (a catalyst) which might counter the irritating substances. See original document