Fabric Care Composition with Essential Oil Perfume for Malodor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric care compositions fail to effectively prevent malodor development on wet fabrics, often requiring the use of cationic surfactants which may not be desirable in all scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A rinsing aqueous fabric care composition comprising 0-5% anionic surfactant, 0-3% cationic surfactant, and a perfume comprising over 95% of specific essential oils, which reduces malodor development on wet fabrics without the need for cationic surfactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cationic surfactant is used to prevent malodour development on wet fabrics, then malodour prevention is improved, but formulation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the cationic surfactant component from the rinse composition while retaining the malodour prevention function through alternative means (specific perfume composition and anionic surfactant system), thereby simplifying the formulation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by specifying a particular perfume composition with defined raw materials and ratios, replacing the traditional cationic surfactant-based malodour control approach
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cationic surfactant is used to prevent malodour on wet fabrics, then malodour prevention is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the expensive cationic surfactant ingredient from the formulation, reducing material costs while maintaining effectiveness through the optimized anionic surfactant and perfume system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs cost-effective anionic surfactants and perfume raw materials that are more economical than cationic surfactants, achieving the same functional outcome at lower production cost
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cationic surfactant is used in rinse composition, then malodour control is improved, but fabric safety and consumer acceptance worsen due to potential irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the traditionally harmful cationic surfactant role into a beneficial anionic surfactant system combined with specifically selected perfume ingredients that are gentler on fabrics and skin, eliminating irritation while maintaining malodour control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical safety parameters by selecting perfume raw materials with known safety profiles and anionic surfactants that are less irritating than cationic alternatives
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 composition significantly reduces malodor on wet fabrics, making the use of cationic surfactants unnecessary, and is particularly effective when used in low or absent amounts, providing a desirable solution for maintaining fabric freshness.
Implementation Method 1
Liu, H. et al., J. Surfactants Deterg., vol 8, no. 4, 311-317 (2005) discloses the effect of surfactant concentration, surfactant type, water solubility and fiber morphology on adsorption of aroma chemicals on cotton fabric
Implementation Method 2
Normand, V. et al., Flavour Fragr. J., vol. 23, 49-57 (2008) discloses a theoretical model of the effect of surfactant micelles on the deposition of perfume molecules on fabric during a full washing cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A rinsing aqueous fabric care composition used to fight malodour on damp fabric. The composition comprises from 0 wt% to 5 wt% of anionic surfactant, from 0 wt% to 3 wt% of cationic surfactant, and a specifically designed perfume.