Patent ID: 7192459

Claim:
A method for dispensing an odorant to a fluid comprising the steps of: providing a vessel having an inner surface and an interior volume; applying a first layer comprising at least one odorant material to at least a portion of the inner surface, the odorant material having at least one odor detectable by a sense of smell of a living being, wherein the first layer comprising at least one odorant material is applied to at least a portion of the inner surface by dissolving the odorant in a solvent, placing a film of the solvent containing the dissolved odorant on the inner surface, and drying the film such that a continuous layer of odorant is left on the surface; applying a second layer of an odorant-permeable material over the odorant layer, thereby encapsulating the odorant material between the second layer and the inner surface of the vessel; filling the vessel with the fluid; and permeating at least a portion of the odorant material through the odorant-permeable material into the fluid, whereby a desired concentration of the odorant material is maintained in the interior volume of the vessel.