Malodor counteracting compositions and method for their use

Abstract

The invention relates to a malodor counteractancy method that resorts to the use of specific malodor counteracting mixtures of fragrance ingredients. More particularly, the invention relates to method of use of new compositions capable of neutralizing or masking in an efficient manner malodors of a large variety of such as body or animal malodors, kitchen malodors, toilet and bathroom malodors, and tobacco malodor. The novel compositions of the invention contain at least one nitrile material in combination with another fragrance material and can be used in any finished consumer products such as air fresheners, kitchen or toilet/bathroom cleaning or freshening products, textile treatment products and products for application on the human skin or hair, or on animal fur, litter containers or cages.

what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to counteract malodors, which comprises applying to a closed space, or to any surface intended to be deodorized or freshened, a malodor counteracting (MOC) composition in an amount sufficient to reduce, mask, eliminate or prevent any malodor perception from the closed space or surface, wherein the MOC composition comprises at least one ingredient selected from Group (I) compounds and at least one ingredient selected from Group (II) compounds, wherein the Group (I) compounds and the Group (II) compounds are defined as follows:
 A. Group (I):   (i) Compounds of Formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       having one or two double bonds in the C 6  ring, located in the positions indicated by the dotted lines and wherein:
 a) R 1  represents a group of formula 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       R 5  being hydrogen or a C 1  to C 4  linear or branched alkyl radical, or an allyl radical, and R 6  representing hydrogen or a C 1  to C 4  linear or branched alkyl radical;
 b) R 2  is H, ═CH 2  or —CH 3 ; 
 c) R 3  is H or a C 1  to C 4  linear or branched alkyl radical; and 
 d) R 4  is H or a C 1  to C 4  linear or branched alkyl radical; 
 the sum of carbons atoms in groups R 2 , R 3  and R 4  being less than, or equal to, 7; or 
 
       (ii) Compounds of Formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which n is 1 or 2, R 7  represents a C 1  to C 10  linear or branched alkyl or allyl radical, and R 8  is H or a C 1  to C 4  linear or branched alkyl radical; or
 (iii) A Compound Selected from Group Consisting of the Compounds of Formulae 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 B. Group (II)—a Nitrile. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Group (I) component of the MOC composition is a compound of formula (I) comprising a single double bond in the ring, said double bond being located in a position alpha relative to the substituting side chain substituent R 1  carrying the functional group. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound from Group (I) is selected from α-methyl-ionone, undecalactone, (+−)-methyl-2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-1-cyclohexanecarboxylate, (E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3 -buten-2-one) and α-damascone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound from Group (I) is selected from α-methyl-ionone and α-damascone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Group (II) component of the MOC composition is a mixture of 3-(2,3-dimethyl-2(3)-cyclopenten-1-yl)butanenitrile and 3-(2-methyl-3-methylene-1-cyclopentyl) butanenitrile, and the Group I ingredient is α-ionone or β-ionone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrile of Group (II) is selected from the group consisting of citronellyl nitrile, 2-propyl-1-heptanitrile, or a mixture of 3-(2,3-dimethyl-2(3)-cyclopenten-1-yl) butanenitrile and 3-(2-methyl-3-methylene-1-cyclopentyl)butanenitrile. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MOC composition is formed of citronellyl nitrile and at least one ketone ingredient A selected from the group consisting of β-ionone, perhydro-3,6-dimethyl-benzo[b]furan-2-one, α-methylionone, β-methylionone, γ-methylionone, α-damascone, γ-damascone, δ-damascone, 1-(4,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadien-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1(2)-cyclohexen- 1 -yl)-1,6-heptadien-3-one, 4-undecanolide and α-neobutenone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MOC composition comprises one Group (I) and one Group (II) ingredient, with relative proportions varying from 1:99 to 99:1 w/w. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the Group (I) ingredient is safrascenone, wherein the Group (II) ingredient is citronellyl nitrile and wherein their relative proportions are comprised between 1:99 and 70:30 w/w, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the Group (I) ingredient is γ-damascone, wherein Group (II) ingredient is citronellyl nitrile and wherein their relative proportions are comprised between 1:99 and 50:50 w/w, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the Group (I) ingredient is δ-damascone, wherein Group (II) ingredient is citronellyl nitrile and wherein their relative proportions are comprised between 1:99 and 99:1 w/w, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MOC composition consists of a mixture of at least two compounds, one of which is a ketone selected from the group consisting of α-damascone, β-damascone, γ-damascone, δ-damascone, α-irone, α-neobutenone, (+−)-methyl-2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-1-cyclohexanecarboxylate, α- or β-(E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one (α- or β-ionone), α-methyl-ionone, β-methyl-ionone, γ-methyl-ionone, γ-dodecalactone, undecalactone, perhydro-3,6-dimethyl-benzo[b]furan-2-one, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1(2)-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1,6-heptadien-3-one and 1-(4,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadien-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; and the other of which is a nitrile from the group consisting of 3-phenyl-2-propenenitrile, citronitrile, geranyl nitrile, citronellyl nitrile, 2-propyl-1-heptanenitrile, dodecanenitrile, and the mixture of 3-(2,3-dimethyl-2(3)-cyclopenten-1-yl)butanenitrile and 3-(2-methyl-3-methylene-1-cyclopentyl) butanenitrile, wherein the mixture provides a MOC effect that is greater than that which would have been expected from the simple addition of individual MOC contributions of the two compounds. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the MOC composition, a perfuming composition containing the MOC composition, or a consumer product containing the MOC composition is applied to human skin and hair, animal skin or fur, kitchen and toilet surfaces, the surface of animal cages or litter containers, rubbish containers surfaces, textile and laundry surfaces, glass windows, dishes and crockery surfaces to counteract malaodor therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the composition is applied in the form of a perfume, a body deodorant, or an air or fabric freshener. 
     
     
         15 . A perfuming composition comprising a MOC composition according to  claim 1 , together with a perfuming co-ingredient, a solvent or an adjuvant of current use in perfumery. 
     
     
         16 . The perfuming composition of  claim 15 , wherein the MOC composition constitutes 5 to 50% by weight of the total weight of the perfuming composition. 
     
     
         17 . A consumer article or product comprising a MOC composition according to  claim 1 , together with a consumer product base. 
     
     
         18 . The consumer article or product according to  claim 17 , in the form of a solid or liquid detergent or fabric softener, a bleach, a perfume, a cologne or after-shave lotion, a perfumed soap, a shower or bath salt, mousse, oil or gel, a hygiene product, a hair care product such as shampoo, spray or conditioner, a deodorant or antiperspirant, an air freshener or a cosmetic preparation, a fabric refresher, an ironing water, a paper or non-woven substrate or a wipe. 
     
     
         19 . A method for counteracting malodor, which comprises:
 a) providing a MOC composition according to  claim 1  by admixing of the ingredients;   b) admixing the MOC composition obtained in a) with a standard malodor composition and applying the resulting mixture to a sniffing pen to obtain a sniffing sample for evaluation of effectiveness of said MOC composition against the standard malodor of reference;   c) applying the standard malodor composition, in a concentration identical to its concentration in the sniffing sample of b), to a sniffing pen of the same type, to obtain a sniffing blank of the standard malodor of reference;   d) subjecting the sniffing sample and the sniffing blank to a blind evaluation panel for selecting the MOC composition that effectively counteracts the malodor of reference; and   e) applying the selected MOC composition to air in a closed space, or to any surface intended to be deodorized or freshened.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the selected composition is applied to counteract bathroom, tobacco or kitchen malodor.