Laundry Scent Pastilles for Controlled Perfume Release
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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 to 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 to provide a balanced scent experience without interference from other laundry products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If consumers overdose laundry products to achieve desired scent strength, then the perfume scent intensity is improved, but the cost increases and product waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The laundry product is segmented into two distinct functional components: pastilles providing concentrated perfume scent and a laundry detergent or fabric softener providing cleaning or softening action. This segmentation allows consumers to use only the amount of perfume needed (1-3 pastilles per load) without overdosing, as the pastilles are discrete, pre-measured units that dissolve completely during the wash cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The perfume scent function is extracted from the traditional all-in-one laundry product and isolated into separate pastille form. This extraction allows the perfume component to be independently controlled and dosed separately from the detergent or softener, enabling precise scent intensity control without requiring consumers to estimate or overdose the entire laundry product.
2Adaptability or versatility
If consumers use multiple laundry products simultaneously, then comprehensive laundry care is achieved, but the scent balance becomes unpredictable and may result in scent clash
Solution Approach 1:
The pastille acts as an intermediary carrier that delivers concentrated perfume scent independently of other laundry products. Because pastilles dissolve completely during the wash cycle, they mediate the scent delivery process without requiring precise timing or sequencing with detergent or softener application, ensuring consistent scent results regardless of which laundry products are used alongside them.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and delivery parameters of the perfume from traditional liquid or aerosol forms to solid pastille form that dissolves in water. This parameter change allows the perfume to be delivered in a controlled, measurable quantity (1-3 pastilles per load) with consistent dissolution and release characteristics, stabilizing the scent composition regardless of other products used in the wash.
3Ease of operation
If traditional perfume delivery methods are used, then application is simple, but the scent release is uncontrolled and may occur at inappropriate times
Solution Approach 1:
The perfume is pre-encapsulated in pastille form before use, with all necessary dissolution and release characteristics built into the pastille structure during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that the perfume will release at the appropriate time (during the wash cycle when the pastille dissolves) without requiring consumer knowledge or action to control the timing, maintaining ease of operation while achieving controlled scent release.
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 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 viscous material comprising: (a) from about 80% to about 91% by weight of the composition of polyethylene glycol, wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight from about 5,000 to about 11,000
Implementation Method 2
from about 2% to about 12% by weight of the composition of friable perfume microcapsule, wherein the perfume microcapsule comprises encapsulated perfume
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.