CN1294521A - Method for aroma delivery - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for delivering aroma comprising the step of applying water to a mixture of an effective amount of an aromatic ingredient, an exothermic ingredient, and a pH adjusting agent, thereby causing the temperatures of the mixture to rise and resulting in volatilization of the aromatic ingredients.

Description

Method for releasing fragrance

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of methods for delivering fragrances. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for producing a fragrance from an exothermic reaction.

Background

Aromatic volatile components are widely used in a variety of products, including pharmaceutical products. Certain types of aromatic volatile components (e.g., menthol, eucalyptus oil, camphor, thymol) are known for the treatment and treatment of colds, decongestion and nasal congestion. Many consumers who suffer from colds or allergies and have certain associated symptoms (e.g., nasal congestion and cough) prefer to use pharmaceutical products made with such aromatic volatile ingredients. The use of these medicinal products is often to inhale aromatic vapors along with water vapor to relieve nasal congestion, coughing and other cold or allergic symptoms. Generally, steam is generated using hot water or steam.

More recently, alternative uses for aromatic volatile ingredients have become increasingly common. Consumers with mental stress often prefer to be in a scented environment as a way to reduce stress. Certain aromatic volatile components are popular for the management and treatment of mental stress due to their ability to produce relaxation and relieve such stress. These aromatic volatile components (e.g., eucalyptol, jasmine, lavender oil) are known to provide a fragrant environment in aromatherapy as aromatic fragrant components. As used herein, "aromatherapy" refers to a treatment used in psychiatric treatment to remove or relieve stress and cause relaxation, particularly to relax mental stress. The conventional aromatherapy is the inhalation of aromatic vapors. Hot water is used with the aromatic active or a container (e.g., a pot or tray) holding the aromatic component and water is heated to produce a fragrance from the aromatic component. However, consumers are easily bored with these methods of use (i.e., heating water to produce an aromatic vapor and/or vapor inhalation) and because the scented oily or wax matrix is required to clean soiled containers after aromatic vapor inhalation.

Some exothermic reactions have previously been used in order to generate heat or increase temperature. Various products utilizing exothermic reactions are known, for example, in the food sector (e.g., self-heating dishware, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,981 to Taub et al), in the pharmaceutical sector (e.g., body warmer, see Sahara, U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,909), or in the smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes, see Potter et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,399).

Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a method of delivering a fragrance that includes generating heat through an exothermic reaction that is efficient and easy to use. None of the prior art provides the advantages and benefits of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a method of releasing a fragrance comprising the step of adding water to a mixture of an effective amount of an aroma component, an exothermic component, and a pH adjusting agent, thereby causing the mixture to increase in temperature and the aroma component to volatilize.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood after reading the present specification.

Detailed Description

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description.

All percentages and ratios used hereinafter are by weight of the total composition, unless otherwise indicated.

All measurements referred to in this specification were performed at 25 ℃ unless otherwise indicated.

Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages, ratios, and levels of ingredients referred to herein are based on the actual amount of the ingredient, excluding solvents, fillers, or other materials with which the ingredient may be combined into commercially available products. All publications, patent applications, and issued patents mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. The citation of any document, as prior art to the present invention, does not constitute any admission as to its usefulness.

Here, "comprising" means that other steps and other components which do not affect the end result can be added. This term includes the terms "consisting of … …" and "consisting essentially of … …".

The flavor release method of the present invention can be used for various products in different industrial fields, wherein conventional methods for releasing flavor used previously are, for example, heating or warming. These products are, for example, pharmaceuticals for medical treatment, and aromatherapy products that induce relaxation and relieve stress by providing an aromatic environment. The flavor delivery methods of the present invention can also be used to produce certain toxins to control pests. These methods are particularly useful for designing pharmaceutical products that rapidly inhale aromatic actives and aromatic compounds to treat cold or allergy symptoms (e.g., cold, nasal congestion, etc.).

The methods of the present invention may also be used with products designed to warm the body (e.g., warm the body to relieve pain), including heating or warming pads. The method can be used to treat injuries by warming the painful areas of the body while reducing the stress caused by such pain.

The method of the invention may also be used with a packaged product, such as a kit comprising two compartments, one containing a mixture of the aroma component, the exothermic component and the pH adjusting agent, and the other containing water. The two chambers are separated by a spacer until the cartridge is used. When the spacer is removed, water mixes with the mixing ingredients to generate heat, causing the flavor to be released.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of delivering a fragrance comprising the step of adding water to a mixture of an effective amount of a fragrance component, an exothermic component and a pH adjusting agent, thereby causing the temperature of the mixture to increase, resulting in volatilization of the fragrance component.

The method of the present invention includes reacting an exothermic composition of a specified concentration with water to generate heat to volatilize the aromatic composition.

The temperature generated by the reaction of the exothermic composition with water is preferably in the range of about 40 ℃ to about 100 ℃, more preferably about 40 ℃ to about 70 ℃. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that such a temperature range is suitable for volatilizing the fragrance component including the fragrance active compound and the fragrance compound.

The method of the present invention further comprises generating steam by increasing the temperature through an exothermic reaction with water, so that the fragrance can be released with the steam.

A. Aromatic component

Here, "aromatic component" refers to a component that volatilizes due to the temperature generated by the reaction of an exothermic component with water, which releases a fragrance to the user. Aromatic ingredients useful in the present invention include aromatic active ingredients, aromatic fragrance ingredients, and mixtures thereof.

The aroma component may be provided in any form, such as an oil or water/oil emulsion. For example, in one embodiment, a cartridge product using the method of the present invention has two compartments, one containing an aroma component in the form of an emulsion and the other containing an exothermic component and a pH adjusting agent.

Here, "aromatic active ingredient" refers to an ingredient particularly useful in medical treatment. The aromatic active ingredient may include any ingredient conventionally used as a medicinal therapeutic active, such as various aromatic active agents sold over the counter that are volatile and used to treat colds, allergy symptoms, and nasal congestion. These aromatic active agents may be in solid or liquid form.

Non-limiting examples of aromatic active agents include menthol, eucalyptus oil, camphor, thymol, turpentine, 1-methamphetamine, bornyl acetate, and mixtures thereof.

Here, "aromatic fragrant component" refers to a component used in aroma therapy for mental relaxation. Examples of aromatic fragrant components of the present invention include peppermint oil, peppermint oil from mentha, lavender oil, citronella oil, lemon oil, orange oil, sandalwood oil, and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, the aromatic active ingredient may provide a pleasant fragrance in addition to providing a medicinal vapor.

B. Exothermic composition

Herein, "exothermic component" refers to a component that generates heat when reacting with water for a reaction called an exothermic reaction. Exothermic compositions useful in the present invention may be any composition conventionally used to generate heat upon reaction with water and are commercially available for use in the medical arts. Exothermic compositions useful herein include metals or metal oxides.

The metal of the present invention includes, for example, magnesium and sodium, preferably magnesium. The preferred metal oxide herein is calcium oxide.

The mechanism of the exothermic reaction using metals is different from the reaction using metal oxides. Theoretically, the exothermicreaction of the metal with water requires the presence of an acidic medium. The mechanism of the metal-based exothermic reaction is that 1 mole of metal reacts with 2 moles of water in the presence of hydrogen ions to give 1 mole of metal hydroxide, while heat is generated to volatilize aromatic components. The following is an example of the exothermic reaction of the present invention using a metal as the exothermic component.

As described above, the exothermic reaction (I) with the metal and water gives a metal hydroxide and liberates hydrogen. The hydrogen gas is released as bubbles and effervesces easily, resulting in an aesthetic improvement. It is believed that hydrogen gas can aid in fragrance release and signal the user that the exothermic composition is reacting with water. When the exothermic reaction is substantially complete, the amount of released bubbles decreases.

The weight ratio of water to metal added in accordance with the exothermic reaction (I) is from about 1: 20 to about 1: 100, preferably from 1: 20 to 1: 50, in order to generate a temperature suitable for the volatilization of the aromatic components. For example, a composition comprising about 0.1 grams of metal for use in the present fragrance delivery method is prepared and about 5ml (mg) of water is added to produce a maximum temperature of about 68 ℃ for the volatile fragrance component.

The metal is preferably of high purity, particularly when flavour release occurs to a limited extent using large exothermic reactions (four times the amount of metal and water as shown in the examples herein may be useful for flavour release in one room). It is believed that large exothermic reactions, particularly those with magnesium, may produce reactions with impure or less odorous odors when the metal is not sufficiently pure.

Where the metal oxide is selected to react exothermically to release the fragrance in the present invention, it is necessary to react 1 mole of water with 1 mole of metal oxide. In this case, the exothermic reaction does not require the presence of an acid (e.g., hydrogen ions). As in the case of reaction (I), 1 mol of the metal hydroxide is obtained, and an appropriate temperature is produced to volatilize the aromatic component. The following is an example of an exothermic reaction using a metal oxide.

(II)

Reaction (II) does not evolve gas. However, to achieve the same aesthetic bubbling effect as that of hydrogen generated by reaction (I), the exothermic reaction with the metal oxide can include an effervescent agent.

The amount of metal oxide and water is at least about 1: 2 to about 1: 15 by weight, preferably about 1: 2 to about 1: 5, based on the exothermic reaction (II), in order to produce the temperature of the volatile aromatic component. For example, a composition for use in the present fragrance delivery method comprising about 1 gram of metal oxide is prepared, and about 5ml (mg) of water is added to produce a maximum temperature of about 67℃ for the volatile fragrance component.

C.pH regulator

Here, "pH adjusting agent" means a component for neutralizing the metal hydroxide produced by the exothermic reaction of the present invention as described in the reactions (I) and (II). It is known that these metal hydroxides resulting from the reaction of exothermic components with water tend to produce unsuitable alkaline pH conditions, which may be greater than about 10. Generally, such pH conditions are unsafe. Therefore, a pH adjuster is added to neutralize the metal hydroxide produced in the reaction. The following is the neutralization reaction.

(III)

The pH adjusting agent used herein includes any acid used in a conventional neutralization reaction. Examples of pH adjusters are citric acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid.

The pH adjusting agent may be added to the composition after flavor release in a slightly acidic condition, preferably at a pH of about 3 to 7. The amount of pH adjusting agent relative to the exothermic composition is from about 1: 3 to about 1: 6 by weight of the composition. When a metal is used as the exothermic composition, the weight ratio of metal to pH adjusting agent is preferably at least about 1: 6. When a metal oxide is used as the exothermic composition, the pH adjusting agent is preferably present in a weight ratio of at least about 1: 3.

D. Additional ingredients

The method of the invention is useful for products or compositions of different fields as described above. The composition or product used in the method may be modified and formulated into various dosage forms, such as powders, granules, tablets, packaged in bags (e.g., tea bags), or a kit comprising two or more compartments, depending on the dosage required. The compositions useful in the methods of the present invention may further comprise additional ingredients selected from carriers, effervescent agents, binders, colorants, tableting aids, and mixtures thereof. In examples including tablets, powders or granules, the additional ingredient is preferably in solid form to promote process flowability and product stability.

The additional ingredients must be of sufficiently high purity and sufficiently low toxicity to achieve satisfactory flavour release properties. In addition to those described below, additional ingredients useful in the present invention include, for example, diluents such as dextrose, mannitol, and direct compressible sugars; stabilizers such as agar, pectin, gums and starches; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and BHA; preservatives, such as potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and the like; and compatible non-toxic materials used in other pharmaceutical formulations.

1. Effervescent agent

The process of the invention, particularly a process for volatilizing an aromatic component using an exothermic reaction (I), can form a gas as described above. However, reaction (II) does not provide bubbles, but sometimes bubbles may be desirable, for example, for aesthetic purposes. Herein, "effervescent" refers to any carbonate that provides gas bubbles when reacted with an acid. Generally, the carbonate source reacts with the acid source to form bubbles, for example, when the carbonate is brought together with the carboxylic acid. Any ingredient that is conventionally used as an effervescent agent in the pharmaceutical arts is acceptable herein. The effervescent agent of the present invention may be selected for compatibility with other components, particularly the pH adjusting agent that reacts with the effervescent agent. A preferred effervescent agent is sodium bicarbonate. The following is an example of a reaction with sodium bicarbonate and a citric acid source.

(IV)

Reaction (IV) forms carbon dioxide, which produces effervescence.

2. Carrier

Compositions (particularly tablets) useful in the methods of the invention may include a carrier. The carrier used in the compositions herein may be any carrier that is available and conventionally used in pharmaceutical compositions. The carrier may be selected for compatibility with all other ingredients included in the compositionand the desired properties of the composition. Suitable carriers here are sugars.

The carrier may be added in various forms depending on the dosage form of the composition, but the carrier is preferably a solid. For example, when the composition is a tablet, the carrier can be mixed with the other ingredients (e.g., exothermic ingredients and pH-adjusting ingredients) at the time of granulation.

The carrier is present in an effective amount, preferably at a level of from about 10% to about 70% by weight. Preferably, the carrier is added separately to each of the essential ingredients (e.g., exothermic ingredient and pH-adjusting ingredient) prior to mixing to facilitate granulation and/or tableting. The ratio of these ingredients to carrier is preferably about 50: 50.

3. Adhesive agent

The compositions useful in the methods of the present invention may also include a binder, which is particularly useful for binding the components for tablet compositions. It is believed that insufficient binding capacity tends to cause the composition in tablet form (particularly disc-shaped) to split diametrically in half during manufacture. This splitting of the tablet is often referred to as "capping". The amount and type of binder can be selected based on compatibility with the other components and the desired end product characteristics.

Examples of useful binders include sugars, sugar alcohols, starches (e.g., starch paste and pregelatinized starch), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, gums, and mixtures thereof. In some instances, particularly in tablets, the binder and carrier may be composed of the same material. Alternatively, the adhesive and carrier may be completely different. It is believed that the addition of a binder during granulation is beneficial to the stability of the granules.

The binder may be present in an effective amount, preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 3%.

4. Coloring agent

The compositions useful in the methods of the present invention may further comprise a colorant. The colorant can be present in an effective amount, preferably from about 10ppm to about 500ppm, more preferably from about 20ppm to about 250ppm by weight.

5. Tabletting auxiliaries

When the composition used in the process of the invention is a tablet, tabletting auxiliaries may be added in order to facilitate the formation of the tablet. As used herein, "tableting aids" refer to ingredients added in small amounts to the granules which improve the flowability of the granules, reduce attrition and/or facilitate tablet release from the tablet press. Tableting aids for use herein include, for example, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, aerosols, talc and mixtures thereof. The amount of tableting aid of the composition of the invention is preferably sufficient to prevent the tablet from breaking in half, preferably from about 0.1% to about 8% by weight of the tablet.

Examples

The following examples further describe and demonstrate embodiments within the scope of the present invention. These examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention since many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The components shown below can be prepared by conventional methods known in the art. Suitable formulations are as follows:(wt%)

Type of product	Example I Tea bag 1	Example II Tea bag 2	Example III Powder 1	Example IV Powder 2	Example V Tablet formulation
						Calcium oxide Magnesium alloy Mg particles NaHC03 Citric acid Citric acid granules Menthol Mint oil Aerosil	23.54 71.86 3.1 1.5	13.06 78.36 7.36 1.22	23.54 1.25 70.61 3.1 1.5	13.06 78.36 7.36 1.22	13.3 79.82 3.75 0.65 2.5
Total of	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

Mg particles containing 1: 1 magnesium and sugar

The citric acid granules contain 1: 1 citric acid and sugar.

5g of the mixture of the formulation of example 1 and 2.04 g of the mixture of the formulation of example 2 were packed in the tea bag 1 and the tea bag 2, respectively, to prepare tea bag type products.

The formulations of examples 3 and 4 were mixed to make powder type products (powders 1 and 2), respectively.

4.0 mg of the mixture of the formulation of example 5 was compressed into tablets.

EXAMPLE I use of tea bag 1

The tea bag 1 made of the formulation of example 1 was placed in a cup containing about 5ml of water, thereby generating heat in the range of about 40 to about 70 c and inhaling the released aroma vapor.

Example II use of tea bag 2

The tea bag 2 made of the formulation of example 2 was placed in a cup containing about 5ml of water, thereby generating heat in the range of about 40 to about 70 c and inhaling the released aroma vapor.

	Tea bag 1	Tea bag 2
			Mixture part (g) in tea bag	5．0	2．04
Water (ml)	5．0	5．0
			Temperature (. degree.C.)	40-70	40-70

EXAMPLE III use of powder 1

3 cups (A, B and C) were prepared and filled with 5.0, 2.0 and 15.0 ml of water, respectively. About 5g of powder 1 (example 3 formulation) was added to each cup. The maximum temperature generated in cup a was about 67C, cup B was about 78C and cup C was about 55℃. The released aromatic vapor is inhaled.

EXAMPLE IV use of powder 2

3 cups (D, E and F) were prepared and filled with 5.0, 2.0 and 10.0 ml of water, respectively. About 0.765 g of powder 2 (example 4 formulation) was added to each cup. Cup D generated a maximum heat of about 68 c, cup E about 89 c and cup F about 50 c. The released aromatic vapor is inhaled.

Cup with elastic band	A Powder 1	B Powder 1	C Powder 1	D Powder 2	E Powder 2	F Powder 2
							Mixture part (g) Water (ml)	5.0 5.0	5.0 2.0	5.0 15.0	0.765 5.0	0.765 2.0	0.765 10.0
Temperature (. degree.C.)	Maximum 67 deg.C	Maximum 78	Maximum 55	Maximum 68	Maximum 89	Maximum 50

EXAMPLE V use of tablets

A cup was filled with 14.0 ml of water. Add 1 tablet (4.0 g, example 5 formulation) to the cup. After about 2 minutes, the heat generation suddenly increased to a maximum temperature of about 79 ℃. The released aromatic vapor is inhaled.

The embodiments disclosed and represented in the foregoing examples have many advantages. For example, they can provide an effective flavor release that is aesthetically desirable and convenient to use.

It should be understood that the foregoing detailed description of the examples and embodiments of the invention has been given by way of illustration only, and that various modifications and changes in light thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that such modifications and changes be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A method of releasing a fragrance, characterized by: comprising the step of adding water to a mixture of an effective amount of a fragrance component, an exothermic component, and a pH adjusting agent, thereby causing the temperature of the mixture to increase, resulting in volatilization of the fragrance component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scent is released by steam.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature is raised to about 40-100 ℃ to volatilize the aroma component.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the aroma component is selected from the group consisting of aroma active components, aroma fragrance components and mixtures thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the exothermic composition is selected from the group consisting of metals and metal oxides.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the weight ratio of metal to water is from about 1: 20 to about 1: 150.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the weight ratio of metal oxide to water is from about 1: 0.4 to about 1: 15.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the pH of the resulting composition from the exothermic composition and thepH adjusting agent is about 3 to about 7.

9. A method of releasing a fragrance, characterized by the steps of:

(a) providing an aroma component, an exothermic component, and a pH adjuster in a first chamber;

(b) providing water in a second chamber separate from the first chamber;

(c) when it is desired to release the fragrance, the first and second chambers are combined, causing an exothermic reaction and release the fragrance.

10. A method of releasing a fragrance, characterized by the steps of:

(a) providing an exothermic composition and a pH adjusting agent in a first chamber;

(b) providing an aroma component and water in a second chamber separate from the first chamber;

(c) when it is desired to release the fragrance, the first and second chambers are combined, causing an exothermic reaction and release the fragrance.