Perfumed Aqueous Composition Stabilized Against Separation and Microbes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural perfumed waters, or hydrolats, are prone to phase separation and microbial contamination, posing health risks and reducing shelf-life, and existing stabilizing methods often include additives that can cause skin irritation and allergies.
Innovation Solution
A stabilized perfumed aqueous composition comprising 95.1 to 99.9 wt.% perfume component in water and 0.1 to 4.9 wt.% 1,2-pentanediol, which stabilizes the composition without additional surfactants or preservatives, ensuring uniform distribution and microbial protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If natural perfumed waters are used as such, then they provide safe and cost-effective perfuming ingredients, but they are prone to phase separation and microbial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (benzyl alcohol or phenethyl alcohol) that mediates between the aqueous phase and the essential oil phase. This intermediary prevents phase separation by acting as a solubilizer and simultaneously provides antimicrobial protection, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and microbial contamination without requiring multiple separate additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two functions into a single substance: phase stabilization and antimicrobial protection. By using benzyl alcohol or phenethyl alcohol that are present in the essential oil composition itself, the invention combines the role of solubilizer and preservative, eliminating the need for separate stabilizing agents and surfactants.
2Reliability
If additional stabilizing agents, surfactants, or preservatives are added to prevent phase separation and microbial growth, then stability and safety are improved, but skin irritation and allergic reactions may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the essential oil composition to serve its own stabilization and preservation needs. The benzyl alcohol or phenethyl alcohol already present in the essential oil at concentrations of 0.01-5% perform dual functions as solubilizers and antimicrobial agents, eliminating the need for external stabilizing agents that could cause skin irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes the beneficial stabilizing and antimicrobial properties inherent in the essential oil composition itself, specifically the benzyl alcohol or phenethyl alcohol components. By taking out and leveraging these existing substances, the invention avoids introducing external additives that could cause adverse skin reactions.
3Reliability
If refrigeration is used to preserve freshness of hydrolats, then microbial growth is prevented, but transportation and storage become more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilized perfumed aqueous composition is formulated to be self-preserving through the intrinsic antimicrobial activity of benzyl alcohol or phenethyl alcohol. This eliminates the need for refrigeration or other complex storage infrastructure, allowing the product to maintain freshness under ambient conditions during transportation and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the perfumed water by incorporating specific concentrations of benzyl alcohol or phenethyl alcohol (0.01-5%). This parameter change fundamentally alters the stability profile of the composition, enabling it to resist microbial growth without requiring temperature control or special storage conditions.
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 maintains stability for at least 72 hours, prevents microbial growth below the minimum inhibitory concentration of 1,2-pentanediol, and avoids skin irritation, while meeting ISO 11930 and USP standards.
Implementation Method 1
a stabilized perfumed aqueous composition comprising: a) 95.1 to 99.9 wt. % of a component (A), wherein said component (A) is a perfume component in a concentration of at most 30 wt. % in water; b) 0.1 to 4.9 wt. % of a component (B), wherein said component (B) is 1,2-pentanediol
Implementation Method 2
Hydrolats are not sterile and hence need to be kept refrigerated to preserve their freshness. Just like many other aqueous systems, they are prone to infestations by microorganisms. The present invention relates to a stabilized perfumed aqueous composition comprising... 1,2-pentanediol
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention relates to a stabilized perfumed aqueous composition comprising: a) 95.1 to 99.9 wt. % of a component (A), wherein said component (A) is a perfume component in a concentration of at most 30 wt. % in water; b) 0.1 to 4.9 wt. % of a component (B), wherein said component (B) is 1,2-pentanediol. In another aspect, the invention relates to a process for stabilizing a perfumed aqueous composition by addition 0.1 to 4.9 wt. % of 1,2-pentanediol to said perfumed aqueous composition, wherein said perfumed aqueous composition is a composition comprising at most 30 wt. % of a perfume component in water. In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of stabilized perfumed aqueous composition in cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products.