Laundry Scent Additive Composition to Reduce Overdosing Cost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers who prefer strong perfume scents in their laundry often overdose on laundry products, necessitating a cost-effective, independent perfume scent additive for achieving desired freshness levels.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising 80-91% polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of 5,000-11,000, 2-12% free perfume, and 2-12% friable perfume microcapsules, shaped into pastilles with a mass of 0.95 mg to 2 g, which can be used as a unit dose or in a plurality to provide a balanced scent experience without interference from other laundry products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If consumers overdose laundry detergent and fabric softener to achieve strong perfume scent, then the desired freshness level is achieved, but the cost increases and the laundry treatment becomes unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the perfume scent function from traditional laundry detergent and fabric softener formulations, creating a separate, dedicated scent additive product. This allows consumers to achieve the desired perfume intensity without overusing expensive laundry products, as the scent is delivered through a specialized additive containing 2-12% free perfume and 2-12% friable perfume microcapsules in a polyethylene glycol base.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the concentration parameters of perfume delivery by using a controlled formulation with specific ranges of free perfume (2-12%) and encapsulated perfume (2-12%), rather than relying on high doses of multifunctional laundry products. This parameter optimization achieves cost-effectiveness by delivering adequate scent intensity through a specialized product designed for this single function.
2Quantity of substance
If consumers use multiple laundry products to achieve strong scent, then the desired freshness is achieved, but the laundry treatment becomes chemically complex and potentially harmful
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the perfume scent function from other laundry treatment functions (detergency, softening), creating a dedicated scent additive that does not interfere with the chemical balance of laundry products. The polyethylene glycol base and encapsulated perfume formulation are designed to be chemically inert with respect to laundry actives, preventing harmful interactions while delivering the desired scent intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyethylene glycol serves as an intermediary carrier that delivers perfume to laundry without introducing harmful chemical interactions. The encapsulated perfume microcapsules act as intermediaries that control the release of fragrance, preventing direct contact between concentrated perfume and other laundry chemicals, thereby avoiding chemical interference while maintaining scent effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If traditional laundry products are used for scent delivery, then convenience is maintained, but precise control of perfume release is difficult leading to overapplication
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments perfume delivery into two distinct mechanisms: free perfume for immediate scent and encapsulated perfume microcapsules for controlled, progressive release. This segmentation allows precise control over the total perfume release profile while maintaining ease of use, as consumers simply add the specified amount of additive (0.95 mg to 2 g per pastille) without needing to measure or control application timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The perfume is pre-encapsulated in microcapsules during manufacturing, creating a controlled-release system before the product reaches the consumer. This preliminary action of encapsulation ensures precise perfume release control during the laundry cycle, while the consumer benefits from simple application - just adding the pre-formulated additive to the wash load without any complex measurement or timing requirements.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, balanced scent experience that is physically and chemically stable, allowing for controlled perfume release during washing, avoiding overapplication of perfume and maintaining freshness without additional laundry actives or softeners.
Implementation Method 1
The compositions of the present invention may be administered to a laundry machine... during a wash cycle... The viscous material is passed through small openings and onto a moving conveyor surface upon which the viscous material is cooled below the glass transition temperature to form a plurality of pastilles.
Implementation Method 2
polyethylene glycol... dissolves well in water
Implementation Method 3
from about 2% to about 12% by weight of the composition of friable perfume microcapsule, wherein the perfume microcapsule comprises encapsulated perfume
Implementation Method 4
dissolves well in water
Implementation Method 5
The solution provides a cost-effective, balanced scent experience that is physically and chemically stable
Implementation Method 6
The solution provides a cost-effective, balanced scent experience that is physically and chemically stable
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry scent additive having polyethylene glycol and perfume. The laundry scent additive enables consumers to control the amount of scent imparted to their laundry.