Phase-stable, sprayable freshening compositions comprising suspended particles and methods of freshening the air or a surface with the same

Abstract

A freshening composition is provided. The freshening composition includes a plurality of particles, a structurant system, and an aqueous carrier. The composition has a spray shear viscosity, as measured according to the SPRAY SHEAR VISCOSITY TEST METHOD described herein, of less than about 0.025 Pa·s. The composition has a creep recovery ratio of at least about 0.1, as measured according to the CREEP RECOVERY RATIO TEST METHOD described herein, or a yield stress of greater than 0 Pa and less than 1.0 Pa, as measured by the YIELD STRESS TEST METHOD described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A freshening composition comprising
 a plurality of particles;   a structurant system;   an aqueous carrier,   wherein the composition has a spray shear viscosity, as measured according to the SPRAY SHEAR VISCOSITY TEST METHOD described herein, of less than about 0.025 Pa·s,   and a yield stress of greater than 0.03 Pa and less than 1.0 Pa, as measured by the YIELD STRESS TEST METHOD described herein.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the spray shear viscosity is less than about 0.01 Pa·s. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a creep recovery ratio of at least about 0.1, as measured according to the CREEP RECOVERY RATIO TEST METHOD described herein. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the creep recovery is greater than about 0.2. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the yield stress is about 0.05 Pa to about 0.5 Pa. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the particle is a benefit agent delivery particle. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the benefit agent delivery particle comprises a polymer of acrylic acid or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the structurant system comprises a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the structurant system comprises a first polysaccharide and a second polysaccharide, wherein the first polysaccharide is xanthan gum and the second polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of: konjac gum, locust bean gum, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the first polysaccharide is present at a level of greater than 10 wt. % to less than 90 wt. %, by weight of the polysaccharide system. 
     
     
         11 . A method of freshening the air or a surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 spraying an aqueous composition into the air or onto a surface in the form of a plurality of spray droplets, wherein the aqueous composition comprises a plurality of particles and a structurant system, wherein the aqueous composition has a spray shear viscosity, as measured according to the SPRAY SHEAR VISCOSITY TEST METHOD described herein, of less than about 0.025 Pa·s, and a yield stress of greater than 0.03 Pa and less than 1.0 Pa, as measured by the YIELD STRESS TEST METHOD described herein.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the spray shear viscosity is less than about 0.01 Pa·s. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the composition has a creep recovery ratio of at least about 0.1, as measured according to the CREEP RECOVERY RATIO TEST METHOD described herein. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the creep recovery is greater than about 0.2. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the yield stress is greater than about 0.05 Pa. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the particle is a benefit agent delivery particle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the benefit agent delivery particle comprises a polymer of acrylic acid or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the structurant system comprises a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the structurant system comprises a first polysaccharide and a second polysaccharide, wherein the first polysaccharide is xanthan gum and the second polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of konjac gum, locust bean gum, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , first polysaccharide is present at a level of greater than 10 wt. % to less than 90 wt. %, by weight of the polysaccharide system.