This description provides cooling compositions that deliver a prolonged physiological cooling sensation to the skin or a mucous membrane. The cooling compositions may be present alone or in product such as a chewing gum or a confection. The cooling compositions comprise a menthyl ester and a second cooling agent, which may be WS-3 or WS-23 and optionally menthol. The menthyl ester may be a menthyl glutarate or a menthyl succinate ester, and it may be present in an amount of at least 5 weight percentage, at least 10 weight percentage, at least 20 weight percentage, at least 30 weight percentage, or at least 40 weight percentage. In many instances, the menthyl ester is present in an amount of 5 to 60 weight percentage or especially 15 to 50 wt %.