| abstract |
A perfume fixative comprises: (a) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); (b) hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC); and (c) hydrophobic oil. The perfume fixative is used by being incorporated in a perfume-containing formulation or product. The fixative is found to be effective in enhancing perfume life, even when the fixative is used at low levels. The efficacy even at low levels is surprising and unexpected, and the reason for this efficacy is not yet known. For practical reasons, the PVP and HPC together should not constitute more than about 0.5% by weight of the perfume-containing product. If these materials are present at higher levels they are discernible by the user, either by sight or feel, which is undesirable. However, the fixative is found to be effective in an amount corresponding to this constraint and also at lower levels. The invention also covers mixtures of perfume and fixative, mixtures of product base and fixative, and perfumed products including perfume and fixative. |