Patent ID: 8633325

Claim:
A method of preparing a composition comprising a dihydronepetalactone, or a mixture of dihydronepetalactone diastereomers, wherein a dihydronepetalactone is described generally by the following structure, and wherein the method comprises: (a) providing an herbaceous material that comprises the genus Nepeta (catmint), (b) extracting from the herbaceous materials an oil that comprises nepetalactone, (c) contacting the oil with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, but in the absence of a diluent, to provide a dihydronepetalactone, and (d) recovering the dihydronepetalactone so produced and admixing it with a carrier and/or a cosmetic adjuvant; wherein the adjuvant comprises one or more members of the group consisting of thickeners, buffering agents, chelating agents, preservatives, fragrances, antioxidants, gelling agents, stabilizers, surfactants, emolients, coloring agents, aloe vera, waxes, fungicides, sunscreening agents, sunblocking agents, vitamins, tanning agents, plant extracts, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-oxidants, radical scavenging agents, retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, emollients, antiseptics, antibiotics, antibacterial agents and antihistamines.