61/000,856

PYBBJM0011

CANDLES CONTAINING A HUMAN PHEROMONE COMPONENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to candles and having an incorporated human pheromone component and methods for manufacturing same.

BACKGROUND

Candles

For much of their history, candles have been primarily a utilitarian item, in that they provided light to otherwise darkened spaces. With the advent of electrical lighting, most homeowners relegated candles to the back of a drawer, using them only during the occasional power failure, or to add some festivity to birthday parties and holiday tables. However, the past decade or so has seen resurgence in the popularity of candles.

The National Candle Association (Washington, D. C; www.candles.org) reports that U.S. candle consumer retail sales for 1999 are projected at $2.3 billion, not including candle accessories such as snuffers, lighters and candleholders. Since the early 1990's, the industry has averaged a growth rate of 10-15% annually. In recent years, this growth has doubled. The U.S. market is typically separated into seasonal (Christmas Holiday) business at roughly 35%, and non-seasonal business at about 65%, where candles are used in 7 out of 10 U.S. households.

This resurgence is due, in part, to the public's perception that a lighted candle provides an aesthetically pleasing light, and a sense of well being within a space where the candle is burning. Furthermore, the public has recently become interested in aromatherapy, and many of the scents espoused by aromatherapists may be placed into, and dispensed from, a burning or non-burning candle.

Another factor that contributes to the recent popularity of candles is that they are becoming more attractive. Candles need no longer be in the form of a block or taper of white paraffin wax. Increasingly, the public is being exposed to, and coming to demand, more interesting shapes, designs and compositions for candles. Accordingly, there is a need in the art

Project Phero.doc for novel candle compositions. The present invention provides these and other related advantages as disclosed below.

Pheromones

Pheromones are chemicals emitted by living organisms to send messages to individuals of the same species. The classes most widely explored are the sex pheromones produced by female moths which are used to attract conspecific males for mating. Bombykol, the sex pheromone of the silkmoth, was first synthesized in 1959. Most pheromones consist of blends of two or more chemicals which need to be emitted at exactly the right proportions to be biologically active. The female effluvia or sex gland can contain additional compounds which are related to the pheromone components and whose biological function is often unclear. On the other hand, many attractants of male moths have been discovered simply by field screening. In several cases it could later be shown that the attractant found with this technique was identical to the natural pheromone produced by the female. In most others, the composition of the true pheromone is still unknown.

While it is known that pheromone systems exist in insects, an increasing number of studies have shown that pheromones play a role in many species, including humans. Pheromones in humans are believed to be produced by the apocrine glands. These glands become functional after reaching puberty, which could explain why most people develop an attraction for others at that time. Pheromones could also be the reason why a person can sense "chemistry", or feel an instant attraction or dislike when first meeting someone.

Certain compounds believed to have pheromone properties affect a specific behavioral or physiological response in human subjects, e.g., a reduction of negative affect, mood, and character traits. In one particular example, nasal administration provides for contacting neurochemical receptors of a heretofore poorly understood neuroendocrine structure, commonly known as the vomeronasal organ ("VNO); also known as "Jacobson's organ"), with one or more steroid(s) or with compositions containing the steroid(s). This organ is accessed through the nostrils of most higher animals—from snakes to humans, and has been associated, inter alia, with pheromone reception in certain species (see generally Muller-Schwarze & Silverstein, Chemical Signals, Plenum Press, New York (1980)). The axons of the neuroepithelia of the vomeronasal organ, located supra palatinal, form the vomeronasal nerve and have direct synaptic connection to the accessory olfactory bulb and indirect input from there to the cortico-medial amygdaloid basal forebrain and hypothalamic nuclei of the brain. The distal axons of terminalis nerve neurons may also serve as neurochemical receptors in the VNO. Stensaas, L. J., et al., J. Steroid Biochem. and Molec. Biol. (1991) 39:553. This nerve has direct synaptic connection with the hypothalamus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides candles having a human pheromone component within the candle and which emanates from a burning or non-burning candle. The human pheromone component which emanates from the candle of the present invention will cause the person or persons in the vicinity of the candle to experience a unique, mood-altering effect. This effect may also be an overall sense of well-being or may one of heightened sexual attractiveness. The invention further provides methods for manufacturing candles having the incorporated human pheromone component.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, a "pheromone" is a substance that provides chemical means of communication between members of the same species through secretion and peripheral chemoreception. In mammals pheromones are usually detected by receptors in the vomeronasal organ of the nose. Commonly, pheromones effect development, reproduction and related behaviors. The pheromone compositions according to the present invention are intended to cause a change in human hypothalamic function, thereby altering certain behavior and physiology mediated by the hypothalamus of individuals. As used herein, "candle" is intended to refer to a light source that usually has an internal wick rising through the column of solid or liquid fuel. Prior to the mid 19th century, the candle was made from tallow (a byproduct of beef- fat rendering). Nowadays the fuel now is nearly always some form of wax, with paraffin wax being the most common. Candles made from gel, soy, beeswax, and vegetable products are also considered in accordance with the definition of candle. Candles can be made of paraffin (a byproduct of petroleum refining), stearin (now produced almost exclusively from palm waxes), beeswax (a byproduct of honey collection), gel (a mixture of resin and mineral oil), some plant waxes (generally palm, carnauba, bayberry, or soy), or tallow (rarely used since the introduction of affordable wax alternatives). The candle is produced in various colors, shapes, sizes and scents. The most basic production method generally entails the liquification of the solid fuel by the controlled application of heat. This liquid is then poured into a mold to produce a pillar type candle, a fireproof jar to produce a candle container, or a wick is repeatedly immersed in the liquid to create a dipped taper. Often, fragrance oils are added to the liquid wax prior to pouring. Natural scents, in the form of essential oils, can be used, but these are usually only found in a premium candle. The candle may also be colored by the addition of some sort of coloring agent. In practical terms this is almost always an aniline-based dye, although pigments can be used in some circumstances.

A candle typically produces about 13 lumens of visible light and 40 watts of heat, although this can vary depending primarily on the characteristics of the candle wick. For comparison, note that a 40 watt incandescent light bulb produces approximately 500 lumens for the same amount of power. The modern SI unit of luminous intensity, the candela, was based on an older unit called the candlepower, which represented the luminous intensity emitted by a candle made to particular specifications (a "standard candle"). The modern unit is defined in a more precise and repeatable way, but was chosen such that a candle's luminous intensity is still about one candela.

It is commonly believed that the candle made of beeswax and/or soy burn more cleanly than petroleum based paraffin waxes. However highly-refined paraffin wax can burn just as, or more cleanly (with regards to particulates created during combustion), than natural waxes. The type of wick and inclusion of any scents and/or dyes have a much greater impact on the release of compounds, particulates, and smoke, regardless of the base material. The cleanest burning candle will therefore be unscented, undyed, and a well constructed candle burning in a draft free area. Furthermore, a candle will function well when formulated waxes are blended together (soy, paraffin and other waxes) and fragrance oils along with wick selections are balanced properly. A smoke film can be a concern to those who frequently burn a candle indoors and is also referred to as ghosting, carbon tracking, carbon tracing. Smoke can be produced when a candle does not burn the wax fuel completely. A scented candle can be a source of candle smoke deposits. Trimming candle wicks to one fourth of an inch or shorter is recommended to keep smoking at a minimum. A flickering flame will produce more smoke, therefore a candle should be burned in an area free from drafts.

Additional debate on the use of wax in a candle exists on what is "natural". Proponents of the soy wax candle will note the material is biodegradable and "all natural". However, most soy beans that result in the ultimate manufacture of soy wax in the candle are genetically modified. Paraffin wax, as used in candle making, is also biodegradable. It also often meets FDA criteria for use in foods and in contact with food.

Electric candle warmers are now being sold so that candle wax can be melted to release the fragrance without requiring an open flame.

A votive candle is a small, typically white or beeswax yellow, candle, originally intended to be burnt as a votive offering in a religious ceremony. More recently, votive candles are used in homes as decorative and scented candles. Votive candles add a great deal of charm to just about any setting. The typical votive will burn for approximately 15 hours and will consume just about all of the wax that was used to create it. A properly crafted votive will liquefy to some degree as it burns. This is necessary to achieve good scent throw. Votives are not intended to be free standing candles.

Container Candles include a non-flammable container filled with wax and a wick. They have several advantages that make them popular: first, they are a bit like a candle and a candle holder rolled into one. They never drip. Also, because they are in a container, one can use lower melting point waxes that enhance scent throw. That fact alone gives scented container candles the ability to effectively throw more scent than their free-standing counterparts.

A tealight is a candle used in tea or food warmers. It is different from a regular candle in that it is encased in a thin metal cover and liquefies completely while lit. Tealights are often used to heat fondue and as food warmers. They are also suitable for accent lighting and heating scented oil. In tealights the wick is tethered to a piece of metal to stop it from floating to the top of the molten wax and burning before the wax does. Generally, tea lights give off very poor light unless grouped together with many other tea lights.

In one embodiment, a candle is provided with a pheromone component incorporated into the wax or which has a coating which includes a human pheromone component. The concentration of the human pheromone is low enough such that it is generally colorless and odorless and thus does not detract in any way from the appearance or smell of the candle. Since human pheromones are effective in very low quantities, the amount added to the candle products of the present invention may be in picomolar, nanomolar, and micromolar quantities.

In another embodiment the pheromone composition will be incorporated into the wick which is disposed on the interior of the candle within the wax. A candle wick works by providing a mechanism, known as capillary action, to transport the fuel, typically melted candle wax, to the flame. When the liquid fuel reaches the flame it then vaporizes and burns. Most candle wicks are impregnated or coated with wax to provide the initial fuel source when the candle is lit. While the wick is consumed in the process of burning a candle the real fuel for the flame is the melted wax. As such all wicks are treated with various flame-retardant solutions in a process known as mordanting. Without mordanting the wick would be destroyed by the flames and the flow of melted wax to the flame would cease.

Candle wicks are normally made out of braided cotton, and may contain a stiff core. This core was traditionally made of lead, however lead wick cores have been banned in the U.S. for several decades by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, due to concerns about lead poisoning. Zinc is often used as a safer replacement for lead in this application. Other core stiffeners, such as paper and synthetic fibers may also be used.

In tealights the wick is tethered to a piece of metal to stop it from floating to the top of the molten wax and burning before the wax does.

The characteristics of the candle wick have a major effect on how the candle burns. Large diameter wicks typically result in a larger flame, a larger pool of melted wax, and the candle burning faster. Wicks are sometimes braided flat, so that as they burn they also curl back into the flame, thus making them self-consuming. Prior to the introduction of these wicks special scissors called snuffers were used to trim the excess wick without extinguishing the flame. However, the meaning of the word has now shifted to mean "extinguishing a candle's flame," as the process of snuffing a candle (trimming its wick with the scissors) usually extinguished it anyway.

Without being limited in any regard, it is contemplated that the concentration of the human pheromone component incorporated in an individual candle will be below 250 μM (micromoles), which is believed to be the olfactory threshold of a human pheromone by the vomeronasal organ. As such, the range of human pheromone incorporated in the candle of the present invention will be within the range of approximately 0.001 μM to 250 μM. However, in manufacturing candles, a much larger quantity of human pheromone will be utilized since individual candles are formed from a larger quantity of wax prepared initially and from which the individual candles are then formed.

The invention is not in any way limited to a specific type of wax or fuel used to manufacture the candle. The invention includes liquid oil and other petroleum products as fuel. The invention may also include added ingredients such as hardeners, dyes, colorants and scents to provide particular odors that emanate from the candle. Other additives commonly used in the production of candles include: Vybar: used in molded candles to lock color and scent in wax, Kemamide powder which is used as a mold release, Paraflint, a compound that provides candles with a glow-through quality,

The candle manufactured in accordance with the present invention may be provided in a variety of forms, shapes and sizes. It should be noted that in addition to physiological responses, pheromones can be identified by their species specific binding to receptors in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Thus, human pheromones bind to human receptors. This can be demonstrated by measuring the change in the summated potential of neuroepithelial tissue in the presence of the pheromone. Human pheromones induce a change of at least about -5 millivolts in human neuroepithelial tissue of the appropriate sex (The binding of pheromones is generally sexually dimorphic, i.e., different in the effect of, or response to, a compound or composition between males and females of the same species). Naturally occurring human pheromones induce sexually dimorphic changes in receptor binding potential in vivo in the human VNO. Naturally occurring human pheromones can be extracted and purified from human skin and they can also be synthesized. "Human pheromones" are pheromones which are naturally occurring in humans and effective as a specifically binding ligand in human VNO tissue, regardless of how the pheromone was obtained. Thus, both a synthesized and purified molecule may be considered a human pheromone.

It is essential to note that the present invention is not limited in the pheromone composition used. Exemplary pheromone compounds include, but are not limited to, copulins (such as short chain aliphatic acids), estrene steroids, vomeropherins, such as 19-nor-cholane steroids, 19-nor-pregnane steroids such, and androstene, androstenol, androsterone and androstenedione compounds. Metabolites of the above-recited human pheromone compounds are also contemplated.

Upon the VNO sensing of the pheromone in the confectionary product of the present invention, the human pheromone will exert its effect by altering hypothalamic function of an individual. Such alteration of hypothalamic function will bring about physiological and behavioral functions of individuals which are normally regulated by the hypothalamus. The changes in physiological functions may cause the individual exposed to the candle, particularly a burning candle, to experience a unique, mood-altering effect or an overall sense of well-being and/or heightened sexual attractiveness.

It has been found that certain human pheromones have a distinct effect on men and others on women, i.e., the compounds are sexually dimorphic. As such, the present invention is not limited to the use of a specific pheromone compound within the candle and/or candle wick and it is contemplated that certain candles directed for men will contain a human pheromone compound different from the candle directed for women or that a single product may contain a mix of human pheromone compounds.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Additionally, the present invention is not limited in the method of manufacturing or producing the candles of the present invention. Numerous methods of making candles are known. Formulas and methods by which the candles of the present invention having a pheromone component are disclosed in the Experimental section.

EXPERIMENTAL General Preparation of Wax for Candles

Initially, androstadienone (androstenol or other human pheromone may be substituted) at a concentration of approximately 600 M was solubilized in glycol (other alcohols may be used as well). A wax block is broken into smaller pieces. Wax pieces are measured to the desired amount. A steamer pot is filled halfway with water and heated to a boil. When the water has reached a boil the heat is reduces so that water simmers. The wax pieces are placed into the melting pot. One chip of candle dye for each pound of wax being melted (or as a previously determined formula requires) is added. The melting pot is then placed into the simmering water in the steamer pot. After the wax has liquefied the temperature of the wax is checked with the thermometer. The wax should be at 190° F. The pheromone composition is then added to the wax when the wax is at a temperature near crystallization. The wax is then stirred with a stir stick and the wax temperature is maintained at approximately 190 ⁰ F for 30 minutes. A wick is extended within a mold into which the wax will be poured. The wax is then poured into the mold and the temperature is then adjusted to allow wax to heat or cool to whichever temperature is necessary for the particular candle style desired.

Making a Pillar Candle Having a Pheromone Component

When wax is ready for molding, a wick is prepared and threaded through the hole of a base for a pillar candle mold. While keeping the wick within the wick-hole of the base, tie the opposite end of the wick to the wick rod that is positioned at the top of the mold. The wick may be secured to the base with a screw for example. Using some mold sealer, seal the wick hole, wick screw and wick. This is to prevent leakage of molten wax. The sealer is pressed firmly into place to ensure a tight seal. The previously prepared pheromone wax composition at the properly heated temperature is then poured into mold.

The wax is then allowed to cool a bit until a surface has formed on your wax. At this point relief holes are poked into the base of the candle to accommodate the natural shrinkage that will occur as the wax solidifies. The relief holes should be positioned around the wick as shown and should be poked to a depth of about 1 inch less than the depth of the candle. The exact number of holes is not important. The important point is to provide a vent by which the contracting volume of wax can suck air through to make up for the decreased volume. Without these relief holes, air cavities may form within the candle, the wick may get pulled off-center, or the external walls of the candle may become deformed.

It may be necessary to poke relief holes several times during the cooling process to ensure that the vent remains open and clear. The candle is allowed to cool completely to room temperature before proceeding to the next step. This cooling process may take several hours. On very large candles, it may take in excess of a full day.

Leftover pheromone wax composition is then re-melted and should be heated about 5-10° hotter than the original pouring temperature. The hotter temperature aids adhesion between layers. Once, the wax is at the proper temperature, the sinkholes are filled to a level just below the level of the first filling. Filling higher than this may cause a horizontal seam line to be visible on the exterior of your finished candle. The candle is then allowed to cool completely before proceeding.

The mold sealer and the wick screw are then removed. If cooled completely, candle should slide out of the mold. If it does not slide out easily, the candle may be placed in a refrigerator for a period of about 15 minutes and try again. The cooling will help the wax shrink even more and help it separate from the mold.

The end of the candle attached to the wick-rod is the bottom of the candle. The wick should then be trimmed on this end with a pair of scissors or diagonal cutters. It is advantageous to trim the wick flush with the base of the candle.

Making a Votive Candle Having a Pheromone Component

A pheromone wax composition as previously described is prepared. Waxes for votive candles typically include fragrance oil and color dye(s). The votive molds are first placed on or over a surface to catch any spills. The votive molds are then filled to the lip of the mold with the pheromone wax composition at a pouring temperature of about 175 ⁰ F.

The wax is then allowed to cool for approximately 3-4 hours. While it is cooling, the wicks are straightened. Once the wax just begins to congeal, a pre-tabbed wick is inserted such that the tab will "stick" to the bottom when it touches. Care should be taken to position the tab roughly in the center of the mold. When the wax has completely cooled, it will have shrunken a bit, leaving a sink hole that needs to be filled. Melt down a portion of extra wax. The extra portion of wax should have a target pouring temperature will be 10-15 degrees hotter than the initial pour (pour at about 190 deg. F for this step). This increased temperature is to facilitate adhesion between layers. Once the wax is at the proper temperature, the molds are filled to a level just slightly above the lip of the mold. The candle is then allowed to completely cool. Once the votives are completely cool, they are removed from the mold.

Making a Container Candle Having a Pheromone Component The procedure for making a container candle commences with the preparation of the wick. Apply glue to the bottom of a pre -tabbed wick and then insert the pre-tabbed wick into the center of the desired container. The top of the wick is secured so that it extends out of the neck of the container and remains centered. Prior to adding the melted wax, it is advantageous to preheat the container to about 150 ⁰ F using a heat gun or by inserting the container in an oven. While pre-heating the container is not absolutely necessary, it improves the finished product since it permits the pouring of the wax at lower temperatures without trapping bubbles and it improves the glass adhesion.

The pre-heated pheromone wax composition is then poured into the container leaving room at the top for the extension of the wick and for a cover if desired. Allow the wax to cool for at least 6 hours. Once the candle has completely cooled, some additional wax heated to a temperature of approximate 185 F is poured into the sunken middle that formed during cooling. The higher temperature of this second pour of wax increases the adhesion between the layers of wax. The candle is set aside to completely cool. After cooling the wick is trimmed to an appropriate length for lighting.

FURNISHED BLANK UPON FILING