The present invention relates to a method for imparting a fragrance to an object comprising the steps: (i) providing a composition comprising or consisting of one or more fragrance compound(s) and at least one polyol ester of the formula (I) as defined below; (ii) contacting the composition from step (i) with the object; and (iii) optionally, drying the object. Furthermore, the present invention provides a fragrant object obtained or obtainable by the method according to the invention, a composition comprising or consisting of one or more fragrance compound(s) and at least one polyol ester of the formula (I) as defined below, a product comprising a composition according to the invention as well as the use of a polyol ester of the formula (I) as defined below for enhancing deposition of a fragrance on an object.

By definition and function, rinse-off products for laundry or personal care use do not effectively deposit fragrance onto substrates such as clothing (synthetic or natural) and human skin. Classically, some of the fragrance is deposited, while the bulk is rinsed away with the product during use. A person skilled in the art of perfumery can design a fragrance to be inherently substantive, but is limited in a few olfactive spaces. By depositing more fragrance on the substrate, there is an increase in: fragrance strength, fragrance quality and any and all ancillary benefits a fragrance imparts, including but not limited to malodor counteraction activity, cosmetic benefit and/or antimicrobial properties. While microencapsulation technology provides improved deposition of fragrance onto textiles, fragrance microcapsules can be: cost prohibitive, limit hedonic directions due to interactions with capsule shell wall material, and pose a micro-plastics concern.

The advantages of depositing more fragrance are clearly beneficial to the consumer in that increased fragrance longevity, intensity and hedonic profile are key drivers of purchase and re-purchase intent and provide superior in-use experiences.

US9701929B2 discloses organopolysiloxane emulsions containing a benefit agent, e.g. a fragrance. The emulsion facilitates increased deposition and retention of the benefit agent onto a target surface such as fabric, skin or hair.

US patent US7776347B2 relates to a structured premix or “delivery vehicle” composition for personal care products, which is designed as a carrier to enhance - among others - the benefit of a hydrophobic benefit agent, such as perfume, via enhanced deposition. The hydrophobic benefit agent may be entrapped within a network structure formed by the premix composition. The structuring material may be e.g. a crystalline wax, hydrogenated oil or fat.

US7524807B2 describes a rinse-off personal care composition comprising a perfume polymeric particle, which is useful as a delivery system for a perfume raw material to skin or hair. The perfume polymeric particle comprises an anionic polymer and a perfume. A polymeric encapsulated fragrance for personal care and cleaning products is disclosed in US7491695B2. Polyacrylate microcapsules are used according to US9561169B2 in a conditioner to increase deposition of a benefit agent such as a perfume on hair.

US6852681 B1 relates to a perfume-containing bar composition with enhanced longevity of the perfume and a process to for enhancing deposition/longevity of a perfume. The deposition/longevity is enhanced according to US6852681 B1 by keeping the amount of soluble surfactants below a maximum 35% by wt.

Despite previous efforts to increase deposition of fragrances on substrates, there is still a need for novel methods and compositions, which are capable, in particular, to enhance the deposition of fragrances, which are notoriously difficult to deposit.

It was therefore an objective of the present invention to provide compositions, in particular in the form of rinse-off products, which allow to deposit significant amounts of fragrance(s) on an object and thus allow to take better advantage of the beneficial properties of the fragrance(s) including - besides the fragrance - also e.g. antimicrobial properties.

In particular, the compositions should be able to impart long lasting fragrance to objects during operations such as washing, wherein the fragrance is not significantly lost during rinsing or drying.

The compositions should also be able to deposit significant amounts of difficult to deposit fragrances.

The above objectives are met by a method for imparting a fragrance to an object comprising or consisting of the following steps:

(i) providing a composition comprising or consisting of one or more fragrance compound(s) and at least one polyol ester of the formula (I) wherein R1 to R5 are independently selected from H, methyl and ethyl, each n is independently 0, 1 or 2,

R6 to R8 are independently selected from H, OH and R9COO-, wherein R9 is a branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 5 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least two of R6 to R8 are R9COO-, preferably, wherein R9 is a linear, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 7 to 9 carbon atoms,

(ii) contacting the composition from step (i) with the object, and (iii) optionally, drying the object.

Polyol esters are hydrophobic, oil soluble compounds. It was found out that, when dosed into a fragrance, which is subsequently dosed into a consumer rinse off-product, certain polyol esters deposit more fragrance onto a substrate than a control sample without an added polyol ester. This novel and unexpected discovery provides a new mechanism of fragrance fixation beyond state-of-the art methods, known by those skilled in the art and science of consumer fragrance design.

Polyol esters provide advantages over state of the art deposition aids/fixatives since they are: miscible with hydrophobic phases and minimally partition into the aqueous phase or require an aqueous medium, like most polyquats. Additionally, this class of molecules does not impart harsh pH environments which can cause, for example, hydrolysis of fragrant esters. Fragrance deposition is not selective in that only certain types of fragrance ingredients deposit, but rather, the increase in deposition is representative of notes that are not expected to present on dry fabric; this opens new creative opportunities for fragrance construction and enables new creative possibilities for dry fabric performance. Dry fabric performance, using current state of the art deposition technologies, is limited in that, generally speaking, mostly base notes and some mid notes deposit, limiting hedonic profiles in this stage. However, with the inclusion of polyol esters as defined herein to a fragrance, it has been observed sensorially and measured analytically that top, mid and base notes have greater deposition on dry fabric.

Structurally, polyol esters are formed by reacting fatty acids with a polyol such as glycol. Corresponding methods are known to the skilled person. In addition, polyol esters of formula (I) and (II) are available commercially.

In one embodiment of the method described above, in the polyol ester of formula (I) R1 , R2, R4 and R5 are H.

In another embodiment of the method according to any of the embodiments described above, two n are 0 and one n is 1 .

In one embodiment of the method according to any of the embodiments described above, R3 is CH2CH3.

In one embodiment of the method described above, the polyol ester has the formula (II)

(II), wherein R10 to R12 are independently selected from linear, saturated alkyl with 7 to 9 carbon atoms.

The object to which a fragrance is imparted according to the present invention can be selected from a range of different materials.

In one embodiment of the method according to any of the embodiments described above, the object is selected from fabric, skin, hair, stone, wood or synthetic materials. Preferably, the object is a fabric, in particular selected from the group consisting of cotton and synthetic fabrics, in particular polyester, spandex, nylon and lycra and mixtures thereof.

As can be inferred from the examples below, the method of the present invention can impart a long lasting fragrance on different fabrics when added to the laundry, which also remains during air drying or machine drying in a tumble dryer. Thus, fragrance can be imparted e.g. on clothes, towels and bed sheets etc..

“Contacting” in the context of the present invention therefore refers in particular to a washing process of fabric, either washing by hand or in a washing machine, in which the composition of step (i) is added to the washing liquid and present throughout at least part of the washing process. After rinsing to remove the soap, the fragrance remains deposited to a large extent even when using a dryer at higher temperatures. Preferably, the composition of step (i) is contacted with fabric by incorporating it into a liquid laundry-care application selected from the group consisting of laundry detergent, liquid laundry detergent, fabric softener, liquid fabric softener and combination thereof. In one embodiment of the method described above, the object is a fabric and in step (ii) the composition from step (i) is added to water, optionally including soap and/or fabric softener, in which the fabric is soaked.

In one embodiment of the method according to any of the embodiments described above, the object is a fabric and the composition additionally imparts conditioning and/or softening effects on the fabric.

Besides imparting a fragrance, the composition provided in step (i) of the method according to any of the embodiments described above, can also provide conditioning and/or softening effects on fabric. Thus, further addition of conditioner or fabric softener can be avoided.

In one embodiment of the method described above, the composition provided in step (i) has a weight ratio of 50:50 polyol ester(s) to fragrance compound(s) or less, preferably 25:75 or less, particularly preferably 10:90 or less. In a preferred embodiment of the method described in any of the embodiments above, the composition provided in step (i) has a weight ratio in a range of 9:91 to 1 :99 polyol ester(s) to fragrance compound(s), preferably in a range of 6:94 to 1 .5:98.5.

The present invention allows to efficiently deposit a wide range of fragrances. In particular, the fragrance compounds are such compounds, which are commonly used or designed for liquid laundry detergent or fabric softener applications.

In one embodiment of the method described above, the fragrance compound(s) is/are selected from aldehydes, ketones, esters, nitriles, ethers, lactones, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols, phenolics, hydrocarbons, acetals and essential oils.

Some very desirable fragrance compounds or mixtures are particularly difficult to deposit on an object in an amount that imparts advantageous effects such as fragrance and antimicrobial properties. These compounds or mixtures of compounds are often quickly lost or only base and mid notes remain on the object, while top notes are lost changing the fragrance impression to a less complex and often less desirable one. Thus, the quality of the fragrance is low. Advantageously, using the method of the present invention, it is also possible to deposit such fragrance compounds or mixtures thereof efficiently and to impart a long lasting fragrance, which does not change significantly over time. Therefore, in one embodiment of the method according to any embodiments described above, the fragrance compound(s) is/are selected from the group consisting of Ebanol ((Z)-3-methyl-5-(2,2,3-trimethyl-1-cyclopent-3-enyl)pent-4-e n- 2-ol), herbyl propionate (tricyclodecenyl propionate), Floralozone (3-(4-ethylphenyl)- 2,2-dimethylpropanal), Lilial (3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)butanal), Hexyl cinnamaldehyde (2-(phenylmethylidene)octanal), Globanone ((8E)-cyclohexadec-8-en-1-one), Iso E Super (1-(2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-1 ,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethenone) and herbaflorat (3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-methanoinden-6-yl acetate).

The present invention also provides a fragrant object obtained or obtainable by a method according to any of the embodiments described above.

Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a composition comprising or consisting of one or more fragrance compound(s) and at least one polyol ester of the formula (I) wherein R1 to R5 are independently selected from H, methyl and ethyl, each n is independently 0, 1 or 2,

R6 to R8 are independently selected from H, OH and R9COO-, wherein R9 is a branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 5 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least two of R6 to R8 are R9COO-, preferably, wherein R9 is a linear, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 7 to 9 carbon atoms.

In one embodiment of the composition described above, in the polyol ester of formula (I) R1 , R2, R4 and R5 are H. In another embodiment of the composition according to any of the embodiments described above, two n are 0 and one n is 1 .

In one embodiment of the composition according to any of the embodiments described above, R3 is CH2CH3.

In another embodiment of the composition according to any embodiment described above, the polyol ester has the formula (II)

(II), wherein R10 to R12 are independently selected from linear, saturated alkyl with 7 to 9 carbon atoms.

In a further embodiment of the composition according to any embodiment described above, the composition has a weight ratio of 50:50 or less polyol ester(s) to fragrance compound(s) or less, preferably 25:75, particularly preferably 10:90 or less. In a preferred embodiment of the composition according to any embodiment described above, the composition has a weight ratio in a range of 9:91 to 1 :99 polyol ester(s) to fragrance compound(s), preferably in a range of 6:94 to 1 .5:98.5.

In one embodiment of the composition described above, the fragrance compound(s) is/are selected from aldehydes, ketones, esters, nitriles, ethers, lactones, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols, phenolics, hydrocarbons, acetals and essential oils.

In one embodiment of the composition according to any of the embodiments described above, the fragrance compound(s) is/are selected from the group consisting of Ebanol ((Z)- 3-methyl-5-(2,2,3-trimethyl-1 -cyclopent-3-enyl)pent-4-en-2-ol), herbyl propionate (tricyclodecenyl propionate), Floralozone (3-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanal), Lilial (3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)butanal), Hexyl cinnamaldehyde (2-(phenylmethylidene)octanal), Globanone ((8E)-cyclohexadec-8-en-1-one), Iso E Super (1-(2,3,8,8-tetramethyl- 1 ,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethenone) and herbaflorat (3a, 4, 5, 6, 7,7a- hexahydro-4,7-methanoinden-6-yl acetate).

The composition according to the invention can advantageously be incorporated into a wide range of rinse-off products.

The present invention therefore also relates to a product comprising a composition according to any of the embodiments described above.

Preferably, the product is selected from the group consisting of rinse-off products, such as laundry detergents, fabric softeners, personal care products, in particular liquid and solid hand soap, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, combinations of hair shampoo and hair conditioner, body lotion, leave-in hair conditioner, surface cleaning products, in particular aerosol surface spray and water based surface spray.

Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of a polyol ester, of the formula (I) wherein R1 to R5 are independently selected from H, methyl and ethyl, each n is independently 0, 1 or 2,

R6 to R8 are independently selected from H, OH and R9COO-, wherein R9 is a branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 5 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least two of R6 to R8 are R9COO-, preferably, wherein R9 is a linear, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 7 to 9 carbon atoms for enhancing deposition of a fragrance on an object, in particular for increasing the retention of a fragrance on an object and/or for increasing fragrance strength on an object and/or for increasing fragrance quality on an object and/or for softening an object and/or for conditioning an object, preferably for increasing the retention of top, mid and base notes of a fragrance on an object and/or for increasing malodor counteraction activity of a fragrance on an object and/or for increasing antimicrobial activity of a fragrance on an object.

In one embodiment of the use described above, in the polyol ester of formula (I) R1 , R2, R4 and R5 are H.

In another embodiment of the of the use according to any of the embodiments described above, two n are 0 and one n is 1 .

In one embodiment of the of the use according to any ofthe embodiments described above, R3 is CH2CH3.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to any of the embodiments described above, the polyol ester has the formula (II)

(II), wherein R10 to R12 are independently selected from linear saturated alkyl with 7 to 9 carbon atoms. In a further embodiment of the use according to any embodiment described above, the polyol ester is used at a weight ratio of 50:50 or less, preferably 25:75 or less, particularly preferably 10:90 or less with respect to the fragrance compound(s). In a preferred embodiment of the use according to any embodiment described above, the polyol ester is used at a range of 9:91 to 1 :99, preferably in a range of 6:94 to 1.5:98.5 by weight with respect to the fragrance compound(s).

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to any of the embodiments described above, the object is a fabric, preferably selected from the group consisting of cotton and synthetic fabrics, in particular polyester, spandex, nylon and lycra and mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment of the use described above, the fragrance compound(s) is/are selected from aldehydes, ketones, esters, nitriles, ethers, lactones, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols, phenolics, hydrocarbons, acetals and essential oils.

In one embodiment of the use according to any of the embodiments described above, the fragrance compound(s) is/are selected from the group consisting of Ebanol ((Z)-3-methyl- 5-(2,2,3-trimethyl-1-cyclopent-3-enyl)pent-4-en-2-ol), herbyl propionate (tricyclodecenyl propionate), Floralozone (3-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanal), Lilial (3-(4-tert- butylphenyl)butanal), Hexyl cinnamaldehyde (2-(phenylmethylidene)octanal), Globanone ((8E)-cyclohexadec-8-en-1 -one), Iso E Super (1-(2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-1 , 3, 4, 5,6,7- hexahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethenone) and herbaflorat (3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7- methanoinden-6-yl acetate).

Short description of the figures:

Figure 1 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid fabric softener fragrance) with different doses of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887) on polyspandex after laundry and drying.

Figure 2 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid fabric softener fragrance) with different doses of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887) on cotton after laundry and drying.

Figure 3 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid laundry detergent fragrance, left column) with 2.5% of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887, middle column) or 2.5% of a polyol ester of formula (I) (EX-1934, right column) on a machine dried mixed fabric consisting of 65% cotton and 35% polyester. The fragrance intensities from left to right are 3.8, 5.2 and 4.7. Figure 4 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid laundry detergent fragrance, left column) with 2.5% of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887, middle column) or 2.5% of a polyol ester of formula (I) (EX-1934, right column) on a machine dried mixed fabric consisting of 84% polyester and 16% spandex. The fragrance intensities from left to right are 4.28, 6.83 and 6.22.

Figure 5 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid laundry detergent fragrance, left column) with 2.5% of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887, middle column) or 2.5% of a polyol ester of formula (I) (EX-1934, right column) on a machine dried and line dried mixed fabric consisting of 88% nylon and 12% lycra. The fragrance intensities from left to right are 3.45, 4.67 and 4.21 for machine dried and 4.41 , 4.94 and 5.09 for line dried.

Figure 6 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid laundry deterge nt frag rance, left column) with 2.5% of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887, middle column) or 2.5% of a polyol ester of formula (I) (EX-1934, right column) on a machine dried and line dried polyester. The fragrance intensities from left to right are 0.45, 0.93 and 0.87 for machine dried and 0.88, 2.17 and 1 .20 for line dried.

Figure 7 shows the fragrance intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 of a control (a liquid fabric softener fragrance, left column) with 2.5% of a polyol ester according to formula (II) (Zelec 887, middle column) or 2.5% of a polyol ester of formula (I) (EX-1934, right column) on damp cotton, machine dried cotton and on cotton that has been dry for seven days. The fragrance intensities from left to right are 4.5, 6.0 and 6.0 for damp, 2.5, 4.2 and 4.5 for machine dried and 1 .2, 3.2 and 3.6 for seven day dry.

Figure 8 shows a comparison of the total fragrance that could be extracted from dry polyspandex and dry cotton after treatment with a control and the control with 2.5% of the polyol ester Zelec 887 and the increase in fragrance deposition with Zelec 887.

Example 1 : Initial testing

A liquid fabric softener fragrance as control was split into 4 aliquots to which increasing ratios (2.5%, 5% and 10%) of Zelec 887 (a polyol ester according to formula (II), commercially available from Stepan Company, Northbrook USA) were dosed. The control plus each Zelec 887-containing test sample were formulated at a total dosage of 1 % (w/w) into a commercial liquid fabric softener (All Free & Clear). Each sample was laundered independently according to typical US laundering conditions for a fabric softener: 2 kg of fabric ballast, medium-sized cold wash water laundry load (10 minutes wash cycle) and one cold water rinse. 35 g of liquid fabric softener are dosed per laundry load. The entire fabric ballast was machine dried (high heat for 60 minutes) or line dried (24 hours on a drying rack). Polyspandex and cotton were used as fabrics and the fragrance intensity after laundry and drying was assessed. To this end, each test sample and control was blind coded with a random 3 digit number. Expert panelists use EyeQuestion Sensory software to rate the fragrance intensity of the blind-coded, randomized samples on a 0-10 linear scale. A minimum of 10 trained panelists was used to determine statistical significance. The results are shown in Figures 1 and 2. At a dosage of 2.5 % and 5 % polyol ester, a significant increase in fragrance intensity with respect to the control can be observed.

Example 2: Liquid laundry detergent

Based on the initial testing in Example 1 , a 2.5% dose (with respect to the fragrance composition) of Zelec 887 or EX-1934 (a polyol ester of formula (I), commercially available from Lubrizol Company, Wickliffe, USA) were tested accordingly with a commercial liquid laundry detergent on a range of fabric types. The results are shown in Figures 3 to 6. The combination with a polyol ester lead to an increase in fragrance intensity.

Example 3: Liquid fabric softener

In order to determine the longevity of fragrance retention on cotton, a liquid fabric softener with 2.5 % polyol ester (with respect to the fragrance composition) and without polyol ester was used under the same conditions as described in Example 1. After laundering and drying, the cotton was stored for seven days. Since the use of fabric softener is not recommended on synthetic fabrics, this experiment was done only with cotton. The results are shown in Figure 7. At all stages, initial damp cotton, machine dried cotton and seven day dry cotton, the fragrance intensity was larger in the presence of polyol esters Zelec 887 and Ex-1934 compared to the control.

Example 4: Analytical extractions

Fragrance ingredients from the fragrance composition used in Examples 1 to 3 were quantified on a laundered polyspandex and cotton towel for a control and for the control with 2.5% Zelec 887 (with respect to the fragrance composition). This was done with industry standard solvent extraction of the towel to strip off the fragrance ingredients, a standard was added at a known concentration and based on the GC/MS area response of the standard, the analytes (fragrance ingredients) were quantified. The list of fragrance ingredients shows that for each sample, which contains Zelec 887, the concentration of each fragrance ingredient on the towel is greater than for the control. The results are shown in tables 1 and 2 and summarized in Figure 8. The GC/MS output is a peak when a fragrance ingredient is detected. The area counts are the area under the peak for that unique fragrance ingredient and the total area under that peak is linearly proportional to its concentration. In this experimental set, the concentration of the Internal standard (IS), Phenetole, is 100 ppm. The signal from phenetole is 18453977 area counts. Ingredient Concentration Mathematical Expression: (Phenteole Concentration I Phenetole Area) x Ingredient Area = Ingredient Concentration. The tables show that more fragrance was deposited and extracted from the polyol ester test sample than the control (without polyol esters). The increase in fragrance concentration on the fabrics is directly correlated to increased fragrance intensity as represented by the sensory performance data.

Table 1 : Fragrance Ingredients quantified on polyspandex towel Table 2: Fragrance Ingredients quantified on cotton towel