Solid Perfume Composition Buffering Skin Acidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercially available detergents and cleaning agents using sodium acetate trihydrate as fragrances can cause unpleasant vinegar-like odors on human skin due to acid interaction, and excessive alkalinity can damage fragrances, leading to off-flavors.

Innovation Solution

A solid detergent composition comprising sodium acetate trihydrate, a fragrance, and a buffer system that maintains a pH of 11 or less when dissolved in water, using sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium glutamate, or TRIS to buffer acidic conditions without damaging fragrances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sodium acetate trihydrate is used as the fragrance carrier, then the composition provides good water solubility and processing range, but it produces vinegar-like odors when in contact with acid on human skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater solubilityVSAvoidvinegar odor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A buffer system acts as an intermediary substance between the sodium acetate trihydrate and the acidic environment on human skin. The buffer (comprising at least one buffer component in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight) neutralizes the acid before it can react with the acetate to produce vinegar odor, thus protecting against the harmful effect while allowing the sodium acetate to maintain its solubility benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the pH parameter of the composition by incorporating a buffer system that maintains the pH within a specific range (pH 7 to 10, preferably pH 8 to 9). This parameter control prevents the acid-base reaction that would otherwise occur on skin, eliminating the vinegar odor while preserving water solubility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If excessive alkalinity is added to buffer skin acidity, then the protective acid mantle is buffered, but fragrances are damaged and off-flavors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin acidityVSAvoidoff-flavors
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer system is carefully designed to maintain the pH within a specific range (pH 7 to 10, preferably pH 8 to 9), which is sufficient to buffer skin acidity but not high enough to damage fragrances. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using excessive alkalinity to buffer skin acidity, the invention uses a partial buffering action with a carefully controlled buffer system that provides just enough alkalinity to protect the acid mantle without exceeding the threshold that would harm fragrances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 effectively buffers skin acidity, preventing vinegar-like odors and protecting fragrances from alkaline damage, ensuring pleasant scents and improved laundry experiences.

Implementation Method 1

a buffer system which can buffer the effects of acids... the buffer capacity of the resulting solution is at least 2 mg HCl/g composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuffering:

Implementation Method 2

which is more or less completely dissolved in the washing liquor during the waxing process dissolves in order to release the fragrances it contains

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3476927B1Solid composition containing perfume
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

A solid, particulate composition comprising (a) 20 to 95 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one water-soluble carrier material selected from hydrated salts whose water vapor partial pressure at a specific temperature in the range of 30 to 100°C corresponds to the H2O partial pressure of the saturated solution of this salt at the same temperature, (b) 0.1 to 20 wt.% of at least one fragrance, (c) at least one buffer system, preferably a solid buffer system, in a type and quantity such that when 1 g of the composition is dissolved in 50 g of deionized water, the pH value does not exceed 12, preferably 11.5, more preferably 11, and the buffer capacity of the resulting solution is at least 2 mg HCl/g composition, preferably at least 3 mg HCl/g composition, more preferably at least 4 mg HCl/g composition.A manufacturing process for the composition, comprising: (a) generating a melt comprising the at least one water-soluble carrier material; (b) optionally adding further optional ingredients; (c) adding the at least one fragrance, at least one buffer system, and optionally a dye to the melt; (d) mixing the melt and the at least one fragrance; and (e) cooling and optionally shaping the mixture to obtain perfumed melt bodies. Use of the composition as a textile care product for scenting textile surfaces. Washing or cleaning agent comprising the composition.