system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does a box of chocolate mints make everything else that's near it minty?
gpt
Menthol, the (natural or synthetic) essential oil that gives mint its minty flavor is volatile (it evaporates easily).

So in a closed box where some of the contents has Menthol, the Menthol scent will end up bathing everything in the box, specially if closed for some time, and exposed to temperature variations.

It's sort of like if you stay close to a person with a strong perfume (which also has volatile essential oils). Even if you do not touch the person, you'll end up catching the scent and have some explaining to do.