Natural Cooling Formulations for Oral Products

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for natural cooling formulations for oral products that provide cooling attributes without increasing bitterness or off-taste, as existing synthetic cooling compounds often fail to achieve this effectively.

Innovation Solution

The use of natural cooling compounds such as isopulegol, menthyl lactate, and menthyl succinate, with optional menthol, in specific weight percentages to create a cooling composition that enhances cooling sensory attributes while minimizing bitterness, incorporated into oral and confectionary products like chewing gum and mints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If synthetic cooling compounds are used, then cooling perception is achieved, but bitterness and off-taste increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling perceptionVSAvoidbitterness and off-taste
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by formulating a cooling composition that combines multiple natural cooling compounds (isopulegol, menthyl lactate, menthyl succinate, and menthol) in specific proportions. This composite natural cooling blend provides effective cooling perception while avoiding the bitterness and off-taste associated with synthetic cooling compounds, as each natural compound contributes to the overall cooling effect with more favorable sensory characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration ratios of different natural cooling compounds in the formulation. Specifically, isopulegol is present at 35-65% w/w, menthyl lactate at 10-40% w/w, menthyl succinate at 10-40% w/w, and menthol at 5-50% w/w. These parameter optimizations enable the natural cooling blend to achieve cooling perception comparable to or exceeding synthetic compounds while maintaining acceptable taste profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If natural cooling compounds are used, then bitterness is reduced, but cooling intensity may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebitternessVSAvoidcooling intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining four different natural cooling compounds into a single synergistic formulation. Each compound (isopulegol, menthyl lactate, menthyl succinate, and menthol) contributes its own cooling properties, and their combination produces a cumulative cooling intensity that matches or exceeds synthetic compounds while maintaining the low bitterness advantage of natural compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite natural cooling material that leverages the strengths of multiple individual natural compounds. The specific formulation ratios (isopulegol 35-65%, menthyl lactate 10-40%, menthyl succinate 10-40%, menthol 5-50%) are optimized to achieve both adequate cooling intensity and reduced bitterness, demonstrating that composite natural materials can meet performance requirements previously thought to require synthetic compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3370547B1Natural cooling formulations
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 WM WRIGLEY JR CO
  • EP3370547B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3370547B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3370547B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Natural cooling formulations which include one or more natural cooling compounds and are suitable for use in consumer products are provided. Natural cooling compounds include natural isopulegol, natural menthyl lactate, natural menthyl succinate, natural menthol and combinations thereof. The disclosed formulations provide enhanced cooling attributes.