1282889 Deodorant compositions GRILLO-WERKE AG 15 July 1969 [19 July 1968 14 Jan 1969] 35578/69 Headings A5B and A5E [Also in Divisions C2 C4 and C5] Deodorant compositions contain as active ingredient at least one calcium, aluminium, magnesium or zinc salt of an unsaturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid having at least 17, preferably 17-21, carbon atoms. Preferred unsaturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acids are ricinoleic acid, ricinelaidic acid, dihydroxyoctadeconic acid, and carboxylic acids with multiple hydroxylation and single or double unsaturation obtained from the oxidation of linolenic acid. The composition may also contain as synergistic agent (a) a saturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid or a salt or an ester thereof and/or (b) an unsaturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid or an ester thereof, preferably in amount 0.5-10% by weight. Preferred acids (a) are di-, tri- or tetrahydroxystearic acid, trihydroxypalmitic acid, or a completely hydroxylated product from more highly unsaturated acids, e.g. linolenic acid. Such acids may be present in the form of their salts with the metals calcium, aluminium, magnesium or zinc or in the form of their esters with monohydric alcohols (C 2 -C 6 ). The composition may also contain as a synergistic agent a salt of a partially hydrogenated phenanthrene derivative, especially salts of carboxylic acids of the diterpenes, preferably in an amount 1-30% by weight of the total active material. In addition the composition may contain a reducing agent which prevents the oxidative degradation of the organic acid residues. Suitable reducing agents are ascorbic acid, 6-palmitoyl-ascorbate, lauroyl ascorbate or α-tocopherol, which are preferably present in an amount less than 1% by weight. Specific formulations in examples consist of 1) a deodorant powder containing zinc ricinoleate, zinc abietate, zinc hydroxysterate and 6-palmitoylascorbate, 2) a deodorant cream containing zinc ricinoleate, zinc abietate, trihydroxystearic acid ethyl ester and α-tocophenol, 3) a deodorant dry spray containing zinc ricinoleate, zinc ricinelaidate, zinc abietate, lauroyl ascorbate and tetrahydroxystearic acid ethyl ester, 4) a deodorant cream containing zinc ricinelaidate, zinc abietate, tetrahydroxystearic acid ethyl ester and α-tocophenol, 5) a deodorant stick containing the active ingredients specified in example 4), 6) an intimate spray containing zinc ricinelaidate, magnesium abietate, magnesium abeuritinate and 6-palmitoyl ascorbate, 7) a hair cream containing zinc ricinoleate, zinc ricinelaidate, zinc abitate, abeuritic acid ethyl ester, trihydroxystearic acid ethyl ester and α-tocophenol, 9) a skin milk containing the active ingredients specified in example 7), 10) a foot fungus ointment containing zinc ricinoleate, zinc dihydroxyoctadecenate, zinc abietate, tetrahydroxystearic acid ethyl ester and α-tocophenol, 11) a powder for animal care containing the active ingredients specified in Example 10, 14) a room spray for air improvement containing magnesium ricinoleate, abietic acid ethyl ester, 6-palmitoyl ascorbate and trihydroxystearic acid ethyl ester. Such formulations contain also conventional carriers and additives such as perfumes. The active ingredients, besides their application in the field of cosmetics or pharmaceutical preparations for humans and other animals, may also be used to prevent or destroy odours of vegetable and animal origin, for example in animal stables and the fish-processing industry. Further applications are the deodorizing impregnation of textiles and in materials used in the maintenance of rooms such as waxing compositions, polishes and paints.