Long lasting and stable freshening compositions and methods of freshening the air

Abstract

A freshening composition is provided. The freshening composition includes about 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition, of a sulfur-containing pro-perfume. The freshening composition further includes about 0.2 wt. % to about 1.4 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition, of a perfume mixture, the perfume mixture comprising at least one perfume material selected from the group consisting of: 3-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methylpropanal, canthoxal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, citral, ligustral, cinnamic aldehydes, and combinations thereof. The freshening composition also includes a carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A freshening composition comprising:
 about 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition, of a sulfur-containing pro-perfume;   about 0.2 wt. % to about 1.4 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition, of a perfume mixture, the perfume mixture comprising at least one perfume material selected from the group consisting of: 3-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methylpropanal, canthoxal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, citral, ligustral, cinnamic aldehydes, and combinations thereof; and   a carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the freshening composition comprises a pH in the range of about 3 to about 8.5. 
     
     
         3 . The freshening composition of  claim 1  further comprising a carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The freshening composition of  claim 3  further comprising a secondary or tertiary amine, wherein the freshening composition comprises a weight ratio of carboxylic acid to secondary or tertiary amine of equal to or greater than 3:1. 
     
     
         5 . The freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the freshening composition comprises a weight ratio of perfume mixture to sulfur-containing pro-perfume of about 3:1 to about 35:1, by weight of the freshening composition. 
     
     
         6 . The freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur-containing pro-perfume is a C4-C12 thio-damascone. 
     
     
         7 . A product comprising the freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the product comprises a compressed gas or hydrocarbon propellant. 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 8 , wherein the freshening composition is contained in a transparent or translucent spray dispenser. 
     
     
         9 . A product comprising the freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the freshening composition is contained in a plastic spray dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . The freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the freshening composition is an aqueous composition. 
     
     
         11 . The freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the freshening composition is free of primary amines. 
     
     
         12 . The freshening composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perfume mixture further comprises dimethyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         13 . A method of freshening the air, the method comprising the step of:
 providing a freshening composition, the freshening composition comprising:
 about 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition, of a sulfur-containing pro-perfume; 
 about 0.2 wt. % to about 1.4 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition, of a perfume mixture, the perfume mixture comprising at least one perfume material selected from the group consisting of: 3-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methylpropanal, canthoxal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, citral, ligustral, cinnamic aldehydes, and combinations thereof; and 
 a carrier; and 
   spraying the freshening composition into the air in the form of spray droplets.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the spray droplets have a mean particle size from about 10 microns to about 100 microns. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the freshening composition is contained in a spray dispenser, wherein the spray dispenser further comprises a compressed gas propellant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the spray dispenser comprises plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of spraying the freshening composition further comprises spraying the freshening composition at a flow rate in the range of about 0.1 g/s to about 2.5 g/s. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the freshening composition further comprises a carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the perfume mixture further comprises dimethyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         20 . A freshening composition comprising:
 a sulfur-containing pro-perfume;   a perfume mixture comprising an aldehyde or ketone;   a secondary or tertiary amine;   a carboxylic acid buffer; and   an aqueous carrier, wherein the composition has a weight ratio of carboxylic acid buffer to secondary or tertiary amine of equal to or greater than 3:1, based on the weight of the composition.