Fabric conditioning compositions

1. A concentrated, aqueous fabric softening composition comprising:

(a) an ester-linked quaternary ammonium fabric softening material comprising at least one mono-ester linked component and at least one tri-ester linked component, the material being derived from fatty groups having an iodine value of from 0 to 3; and

(b) an ester-linked quaternary ammonium fabric softening material comprising at least one mono-ester linked component and at least one tri-ester linked component, the material being derived from fatty groups having an iodine value of from 20 to 140,

wherein the total amount of unsaturated monoester component of material (b) is from 4 to 20% by weight of the total amount of (a) and (b).

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein materials (a) and (b) are both represented by the formula:

wherein each R is independently selected from a C 5-35 alkyl or alkenyl group, R 1 represents a C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl or a C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl group,

n is O or a number selected from 1 to 4 m is 1, 2 or 3 and denotes the number of moieties to which it relates that pend directly from the N atom, and X − is an anionic group, such as halides or alkyl sulphates, e.g. chloride, methyl sulphate or ethyl sulphate.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total amount of materials (a) and (b) is from 10 to 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least 40% by weight the mixture of the softening materials comprises the material (a).

5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cis:trans weight ratio of the unsaturated hydrocarbyl chains in material (b) is 50:50 or more.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fatty groups from which material (b) is derived have an iodine value of from 30 to 60.

7. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total amount of unsaturated monoester component of material (b) is from 7 to 14% by weight of the total amount of (a) and (b).

8. A composition as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an aqueous carrier and an inorganic electrolyte.

9. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising

(1) from 12-16 wt % of the combination of materials (a) and (b) wherein the weight ratio of (a):(b) is from 3:2 to 2:3;

(2) 0.05 to 0.2 wt % of a fatty acid;

(3) 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of an aldehyde;

(4) 0.01 to 0.4 wt % of an inorganic electrolyte;

(5) 0.1 to 1.5 wt % perfume; and

(6) the balance of water.

10. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising

(1) from 18-24 wt % of the combination of materials (a) and (b) (b) wherein the weight ratio of (a):(b) is from 3:2 to 2:3;

(2) 0.05 to 0.2 wt % of a fatty acid;

(3) 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of an aldehyde;

(4) 0.01 to 0.4 wt % of an inorganic electrolyte;

(5) 0.1 to 1.5 wt % perfume; and

(6) the balance of water.

11. A method of preparing a composition as defined in claim 8 comprising co-melting materials (a) and (b), adding the co-melted ingredients to a heated aqueous seat with low shear agitation, allowing the mixture to cool and adding an inorganic electrolyte to the cooled mixture.