Density-Balanced Perfume Microcapsules for Clear, Stable Suspensions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microcapsules used in perfumery products require high dosages to achieve effective olfactive impact, leading to turbidity issues in transparent isotropic bases, and lack stability in surfactant-rich liquids without the need for structuring agents.

Innovation Solution

Microcapsules with an oil-based core containing high impact perfume raw materials and a density balancing material, having a density greater than 1.07 g/cm³, allowing for low dosage usage while maintaining olfactive performance and stable suspension in both isotropic and structured bases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high dosage of microcapsules is used to achieve effective olfactive impact, then olfactive performance is improved, but transparency of isotropic base deteriorates due to turbidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveolfactive performanceVSAvoidtransparency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the density parameter of the microcapsule core by adding density balancing materials (materials with density >1.07 g/cm³) to match the density of the isotropic base. This allows the microcapsules to remain suspended without settling or creating turbidity, enabling effective olfactive performance at low dosages while maintaining transparency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite core material combining perfume oil with density balancing materials. This composite core provides both the olfactive function (through perfume oil) and the density matching function (through density balancing materials), resolving the contradiction between performance and transparency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If high dosage of microcapsules is used to ensure stable suspension in surfactant-rich liquids, then suspension stability is improved, but cost-effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension stabilityVSAvoiddosage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the density parameter of microcapsules to match the isotropic base, enabling stable suspension at very low dosages (0.01-0.1% w/w). This eliminates the need for high dosages and structuring agents, improving cost-effectiveness while maintaining suspension stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If structuring agents are added to achieve stable suspension of microcapsules, then suspension stability is improved, but product complexity and cost deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension stabilityVSAvoidproduct formulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the density matching function from the base formulation and integrates it into the microcapsule core itself. By incorporating density balancing materials into the core, the microcapsules become self-sufficient for stable suspension, eliminating the need for separate structuring agents and simplifying the overall formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If density balancing material is added to increase microcapsule density, then suspension stability in isotropic base is improved, but olfactive concentration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension stabilityVSAvoidperfume oil concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the density of the isotropic base itself (adjusting it to 1.07-1.10 g/cm³) rather than heavily loading the microcapsule core with density balancing materials. This approach achieves stable suspension while minimizing the dilution of perfume oil, thereby maintaining high olfactive concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The microcapsules provide effective olfactive performance at lower dosages without significantly affecting transparency in isotropic bases and ensure stable suspension in various consumer products, including surfactant-rich liquids, without the need for structuring agents.

Implementation Method 1

the oil-based core comprises a density balancing material having a density greater than 1.07 g/cm³

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity matching: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP3559193B1Density balanced high impact perfume microcapsules
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 FIRMENICH SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to microcapsules having an oil-based core and a polymeric shell, wherein the oil-based core comprises a perfume oil having high impact perfume raw materials and a density balancing material. Perfuming compositions and consumer products comprising said microcapsules, in particular isotropic or structured consumer products in the form of home care or personal care products, are also part of the invention.