CROWN vs CROWN Plus: which cooling roller is right for you
Both work during migraine attacks. One is gentle enough for every day, the other brings maximum cooling. We compare CROWN, the everyday roller, and CROWN Plus, the maximum-cooling roller, side by side so you can pick the one that fits.
On this page · 5 sections
Both work during migraine attacks. CROWN is the everyday roller; CROWN Plus brings maximum cooling when you want the cold to go deeper. Most people keep both.
CROWN is the everyday roller, and it isn't just about the cold: menthol and camphor bring the cooling, and magnesium, Bing Pian, Chuan Xiong and German chamomile round it out, which is why it's made for everyday use, up to 3 to 4 times a day. CROWN Plus is the maximum-cooling roller for migraine attacks: its Triple Cool Complex layers three speeds of cool with Bing Pian, Chuan Xiong and Bai Zhi in a water-free oil base, for a deeper cold that lasts longer, and you can reapply as needed. Both work during a migraine attack: reach for CROWN any day, and CROWN Plus when you want the cold to go deeper and stay.
In this article
Side by side
Swipe to compare →
| CROWN | CROWN Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| On the box | Cooling Roll-On | Maximum Cooling Roll-On |
| Made for | Everyday use and migraine attacks | Migraine attacks, maximum cooling |
| Cooling | Menthol and camphor | Triple Cool Complex (three speeds of cool) |
| Menthol | 7% | Yes |
| Camphor | 3% | None |
| Magnesium chloride | 2% | None |
| Traditional herbs | Bing Pian 1.5%, Chuan Xiong 2% | Bing Pian, Chuan Xiong, Bai Zhi |
| Soothing extras | German chamomile | Bisabolol, Roman chamomile, vitamin E |
| Base | Light oil | Light MCT oil, water-free |
| Preservatives | Paraben-free | Not needed (no water) |
| Onset | Builds over 3 to 5 minutes, with a soft camphor warmth underneath | Fast, sharp cold, then a slower second wave |
| Duration | Settles in and holds; light oil, not a wet finish | Longer; oil stays on skin |
| How often | Up to 3 to 4 times a day | Reapply as needed |
| Scent | Mint, camphor, herbal | Mint and herbs, not perfume |
| Size | 10 mL amber glass roller | 10 mL amber glass roller |
What each one feels like
CROWN
CROWN builds. A thin pass of light oil glides on and starts to absorb, and over the next 3 to 5 minutes the menthol’s cold deepens, with camphor’s soft warmth underneath. It is a deep, slow cold that settles in rather than a sharp spike, and how strong it feels depends on how much you used.
CROWN Plus
CROWN Plus comes on in two stages. Menthol gives a sharp cold within the first minute, quicker than CROWN’s slow build and without the warm camphor note. Then the slower coolants take over, and the feeling settles into a steady, deep cold that lasts much longer.
The oil base keeps the cold on your skin longer, so it settles in and stays. A thin line on each temple and one across the back of the neck is all you need, and you can reapply as needed.
How the formulas differ
Each difference comes from the job the roller does. Here they are, ingredient by ingredient.
Triple Cool Complex in CROWN Plus
Triple Cool Complex is three speeds of cool layered together. Menthol brings the fast cold, menthyl lactate builds a steady cool, and two odorless coolants give a long, quiet finish. All of them work on TRPM8, the skin's cold sensor, so the cold goes deeper and lasts longer without leaning on menthol alone.
The full story is in the science behind CROWN Plus.
Bai Zhi in CROWN Plus
Bai Zhi is the root of Angelica dahurica, a classic herb for frontal headache. Chinese medicine has paired Bai Zhi with Chuan Xiong for frontal headache for centuries, so CROWN Plus includes both.
Camphor in CROWN
Camphor gives CROWN its warm note, and it is a long-established counterirritant listed in the FDA's external analgesic monograph. CROWN Plus is designed to feel purely cold, with no warm phase, so it goes without.
Magnesium in CROWN
CROWN includes 2 percent magnesium chloride for the muscular, neck-and-shoulder side of migraine. CROWN Plus leaves magnesium out and puts its weight on the coolants and herbs instead.
Two different oils
CROWN uses a light oil base that absorbs over a few minutes, which is why its cold builds instead of spiking. CROWN Plus uses light MCT oil, the light fraction of coconut oil, which holds the coolants on your skin longer. It is nearly odorless, stays stable, and stays liquid in a cold car. With no water in the bottle, it needs no preservatives.
The ingredients that keep a strong oil formula soft on the skin are covered in the quiet ingredients in CROWN Plus.
Menthol, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, Bing Pian and Chuan Xiong are in both. No lavender, no synthetic fragrance and no parabens in either. Every ingredient is printed on the box in order of concentration. Both are vegan, cruelty-free, lab tested and come in 10 mL amber glass.
Made by Cerebral Torque, a migraine education platform. Every bottle funds the free content we publish.
Which one, or both?
CROWN, the everyday roller
- You want a roller that's more than cooling, for migraine attacks and everyday use, up to 3 to 4 times a day.
- You like a light oil that absorbs, with a cold that builds instead of spiking.
- You like the soft camphor warmth under the cold, and the magnesium for neck and shoulder tension.
CROWN Plus, the maximum-cooling roller for migraine attacks
- You want a deeper, longer-lasting cold for migraine attacks, and the freedom to reapply as needed.
- You want the cold built in layers, with Triple Cool Complex.
- You prefer a cold that comes on quicker and stays put.
- You like bisabolol, Roman chamomile and vitamin E in the mix.
Plenty of people keep both: CROWN for everyday use and attacks, CROWN Plus when an attack needs maximum cooling. Current prices are on each product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is CROWN Plus just CROWN with more menthol?
No. They are two different rollers. CROWN Plus uses Triple Cool Complex, three speeds of cool layered together, with Bing Pian, Chuan Xiong and Bai Zhi in a water-free MCT oil base. CROWN pairs menthol with camphor, magnesium, Bing Pian, Chuan Xiong and German chamomile in a light oil base.
Which one should I choose?
It depends on what you need it for. CROWN is the everyday roller for migraine attacks and daily use: a deep, slow cold that builds over 3 to 5 minutes, and more than cooling, for use up to 3 to 4 times a day. CROWN Plus is the maximum-cooling roller for migraine attacks: a deeper, longer-lasting cold in an oil base that you can reapply as needed. Plenty of people keep both.
Does CROWN Plus feel hotter than CROWN?
No. CROWN Plus is built to feel purely cold. CROWN's brief warm note comes from camphor, which CROWN Plus does not contain.
Why doesn't CROWN Plus contain magnesium?
CROWN Plus puts its weight on the coolants and herbs and leaves magnesium out. CROWN contains 2 percent magnesium chloride for the muscular, neck-and-shoulder side of migraine.
What does CROWN Plus smell like?
Mint and herbs, not perfume. Like CROWN, it has no lavender and no synthetic fragrance.
Do the two rollers share any ingredients?
Yes: menthol, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, Bing Pian (borneol) and Chuan Xiong root oil are in both. Both are lavender-free and free of synthetic fragrance, and both list every ingredient on the box.
Keep both within reach
CROWN for every day and migraine attacks. CROWN Plus for maximum cooling when you want the cold to go deeper. Both lavender-free, both fully listed on the box.
Both ship through Amazon. See CROWN Plus
Related reading
CROWN and CROWN Plus are cosmetic cooling roll-ons, not medicines. Sensory descriptions come from our own use and customer feedback. Patch test first, keep away from eyes, don't use on broken skin, and not for children under 2. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For external use only. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before use. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
Buyer's guide
CROWN: The Migraine Roller by Cerebral Torque
Crown is the first migraine roller built on evidence from two traditions. Menthol with the strongest clinical backing, Bing Pian and Chuan Xiong from traditional Chinese medicine, and magnesium. Here's the science beh...
Buyer's guide
We Lined CROWN Up Against the Other Migraine Rollers. Here's Why It Wins.
We put CROWN next to the migraine rollers people reach for most, Migrastil and MigreLief, and compared what is actually in each bottle. Disclosed concentrations, real menthol dosing, no lavender, and actives the rest ...
Buyer's guide
