| abstract |
The present invention relates to an improved controlled delivery system that can be incorporated in dry granular, or powder, fabric care products, such as laundry detergents, tumble dryer sheets, rinse added products, and other fabric care products, to enhance fragrance performance. The controlled delivery system of the present invention comprises substantially free-flowing, powder formed of solid hydrophobic, positively charged, nano-spheres of encapsulated active ingredients, such as a fragrance, that are encapsulated in a moisture sensitive micro-spheres, solid spheres. The high cationic charge density of the nano-sphere improves fragrance deposition onto the laundered fabric. The high cationic charge density on the nano-sphere surface is created by incorporating a cationic fabric conditioning agent into the solid hydrophobic matrix of the nano-spheres, by incorporating a cationic charge "booster" in the water sensitive micro-sphere matrix, or by using a cationic fabric conditioning agent in the nano-sphere matrix in conjunction with a cationic charge "booster" in the micro-sphere matrix. The fragrance carrier system also provides controlled release or prolonged fragrance release from the dry laundered fabric over an extended period of time, or yields a high impact fragrance "burst" upon ironing the fabric. The invention also pertains to fabric care products comprising the controlled release system of the present invention. |