IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ORGANIC COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: An aqueous self-supporting gel composition is provided, which consists essentially of: a) 1 to 20 % of a fragrance material (preferably a fragrant oil), b) 2 to 10 % of one or more carrageenan compounds or carrageenan blends, c) 0 to 2 % of a preservative, d) 0 to 2 % of a colouring agent, and e) 66 to 97 % water, all percentages being by weight of the composition.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ORfiANTC COMPOSITIONS The present invention relates to fragrance compositions and, in particular, to a gel-type fragrance composition and a method for preparing the composition. Fragrance compositions are commonly used as air fresheners, and can be provided in gel form. Such compositions would normally contain gelling agents and perfume, together with a solvent, surfactant, and other ingredients. According to the invention, there is provided an aqueous self-supporting gel composition consisting essentially of: a) 1 to 20% of fragrance material (preferably a fragrant oil) , b) 2 to 10% of one or more carrageenan compounds or carrageenan blends, c) 0 to 2% of a preservative, d) 0 to 2% of a colouring agent, and e) 66 to 97% water, all percentages being by weight of the composition. By "self-supporting gel" is meant a gel which, at ambient temperature, is of sufficient rigidity that it is firm, is not capable of flowing and maintains its structure. Such a gel can be used as a stick without support means, and is able to stand alone. Carrageenan is a product derived previously from seaweed and is a linear polysaccharide. The term is well known in the art. Suitably, a mixture of kappa, iota and lambda polysaccharide carrageenans may be present in the gel composition in accordance with the invention. By "carrageenan blend" is meant a carrageenan gelling agent composition comprising one or more carrageenan compounds, together with lesser amounts of one or more other constituents. For example, most commercially available carrageenan gelling agents contain a blend of carrageenan and minor amounts of other constituents such as inorganic or organic salts and/or a gum. Preferably, the carrageenan blend used in the gel composition of the invention comprises at least 50% carrageenan compound(s), and more preferably more than 70% carrageenan compound(s) . A preferred carrageenan blend for use in the invention is commercially available as "Danagel DKL" from FMC. Danagel DKL comprises a highly purified carrageenan extract, as the principal constituent, mixed with locust bean gum and calcium acetate- Other carrageenan blends which may be used in the gel composition are those products commercially available as "Satiagel VG11S" (from Sanofi) and "Gelling Agent AF7" (from Cemcolloids) . In contrast to previously used carrageenan gel compositions, the gel composition of the present invention does not contain any added solvents, and in addition, does not contain an emulsifier in an amount conventionally used for solubilisation, as was previously thought to be necessary in carrageenan gel compositions. Furthermore, the gel composition of the invention desirably contains no, or substantially no, surfactant. In addition, we have found that the carrageenan compound(s) or carrageenan blend(s) per se can act as the gelling agent. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, it is not necessary to add additional gelling agents to commercially available carrageenan blends such as Danagel DKL during the manufacture of the gel composition. Preferred preservatives are commercially available preservatives such as Parmetol DF 35 (from Schulke & Mayr) and Glycosyl L (from Lonza (UK) Ltd) . Preferred colourants are aqueous or, more preferably, oil-soluble dyes. The invention allows increased levels of neat fragrance to be incorporated into the composition than is usual for a carrageenan gel, without the need to add additional ingredients to effect this. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fragrance is present in an amount of 4 to 20% by weight. Preferably, the amount of fragrance is from 4 to 12% by weight, more preferably from 4 to 10% by weight. There is no advantage to be gained from using more gelling agent than is necessary to give an effective gel. On the other hand, there should be enough gelling agent present to form a stable gel. Thus, preferably the gelling agent is present in an amount of 2 to 5% by weight. Ideally, the gelling agent is present in an amount between 2 and 3% by weight, and particularly at 2.3 to 2.5% by weight. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gel composition consists of: a) 1 to 20% of fragrance material, b) 2 to 10% of one or more carrageenan compounds or carrageenan blends, c) 0 to 2% of a preservative, d) 0 to 2% of a colouring agent, and e) 0 to 0.5% of a surfactant, all percentages being by weight of the composition, with the balance being water, in the absence of any additional constituents, such as inorganic or organic acids or salts (other than those present in any commercially available carrageenan blend, where such a blend is used) . In some cases it may be desirable to add a small amount of surfactant as a wetting agent, although it is not necessary to add surfactant in amounts conventionally used for solubilisation. Where present, the wetting agent will comprise less than 0.5%, most preferably 0.2% or less of the composition. For example, a suitable wetting agent which may be used in the gel composition of the invention is commercially available as Crillet 4 Super from Croda Chemicals. Further, the invention provides a method for preparing a self-supporting gel composition comprising heating water and the gelling agent to a predetermined temperature, cooling to 60-70°C and adding the fragrance material. Optionally, one or more of a preservative, colouring agent and surfactant are also added to the composition. The composition may be moulded into an attractive shape. Thus, a preferred method includes the further step of pouring the composition into a mould before cooling. The invention further provides a method for fragrancing rooms, cars etc. using the gel-type fragrance composition. The compositions according to the invention may comprise moulded air freshener gels which are sold packaged in a suitable wrapper that is impermeable to fragrance. The wrapper is removed before the gel is used for fragrancing the room or car, for example. The gels are physically attractive and may be displayed or placed in a suitable container. When emanation of fragrance is slow at room temperature, this can be alleviated by increasing the airflow over the gel. For example, the gel may be packaged in a moulded pack including ventilation means, which ventilation means may be opened to increase air flow over the gel. The following examples illustrate compositions according to the present invention, methods of making them, and their use. Example 1 The composition (detailed in the table below) is made up by heating the carrageenan gelling agent and water to a temperature of 90°C while stirring for 30 minutes. This composition is then cooled to 70°C and then the fragrance and preservative and colour are added and stirred well for a further 15 minutes. This composition is then poured into a mould and allowed to cool to room temperature over 20 minutes. The composition is as follows. Table 2.5% of the carrageenan gelling agent, Danagel DKL (from FMC) 10.0% of the fragrance, Pavlova K28552 (from Robertet) 0.1% of the preservative, Parmetol DF35 (from Schulke δ. Mayr) 0.001% of a colourant such as Dragoco (from Sandoz) , the balance being water. Example 2 Example 1 is repeated using 2.5% Satiagel VG11S as the carrageenan gelling agent in place of 2.5% Danagel DKL. Example 3 Example 1 is repeated using 2.3% gelling agent AF7 as the carrageenan gelling agent in place of Danagel DKL. Example 4 Example 1 is repeated using 5% Danagel DKL as the carrageenan gelling agent instead of 2.5% Danagel DKL. Examples 1 to 4 are repeated using 1.5%, 3.0%, 6.0%, 12.0% and 20.0% of the fragrance material instead of 10% of the said fragrance material. Examples 5 - 13 Example 1 is repeated using the fragrances given below instead of 10% of Pavlova. Example 5 10% of Charlotte 56 from Givaudan Example 6 10% of Frangipan 36 from Givaudan Example 7 10% of Summer Pudding K/28552 from Robertet Example 8 10% of Pineapple Parfait K/28555 from Robertet Example 9: 10% of Lemon Souffle K/28554 from Robertet Example 10: 10% of Tartufi K/28594 from Robertet Example 11: 10% of LQ 51898 Pot Pourri from Bush Boake Allen (BBA) Example 12: 10% of LQ 51899 Lavender from BBA Example 13: 10% of Neutrair LQ 51759 from BBA Examples 5 - 13 are repeated using 1.5%, 3.0%, 6.0%, 12.0% and 20.0% of the fragrance material instead of 10% of the said fragrance material. Examples 14 - 22 Examples 5 - 13 are repeated using 2.3% of Satiagel VGllS from Sanofi in place of 2.5% of Danagel DKL. Examples 23-31 Examples 5- 13 are repeated using 2.3% of gelling agent AF7 in place of 2.5% of Danagel DKL. Exa ples 32 - 40 Examples 5 - 13 are repeated using 5% Danagel DKL as the carrageenan gelling agent instead of 2.5% Danagel DKL.

Claims: Claims 1. An aqueous self-supporting gel composition consisting essentially of: a) 1 to 20% of a fragrance material (preferably a fragrant oil) , b) 2 to 10% of one or more carrageenan compounds or carrageenan blends, c) 0 to 2% of a preservative, d) 0 to 2% of a colouring agent, and e) 66 to 97% water, all percentages being by weight of the composition. 2. A composition according to claim 1, which further contains from 0 to 0.5% by weight surfactant. 3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, in which the amount of gelling agent is from 2 to 5%. 4. A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the amount of fragrance material is from 4 to 20%. 5. A composition according to claim 4, in which the fragrance material is present in an amount of 4 to 10%. 6. An aqueous self-supporting gel composition substantially as herein described with reference to any of the Examples. 7. The use of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 6 as an airfreshener.

Inventors: EVANS CAROL ANN LINDSAY, EVANS, CAROL, ANN, LINDSAY
Applicants: RECKITT & COLMANN PROD LTD, RECKITT & COLMAN PRODUCTS LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61L9
IPC codes: A61L9