Stabilization of fragrances in salt mixtures by dual encapsulation and entrapment

1. A method for stabilization of a fragrance ingredient in a salt mixture, comprising the steps of:

encapsulating the fragrance ingredient in a first encapsulating material, which is water soluble and insoluble in a volatile organic solvent, to form a first encapsulated material;

encapsulating a salt in a second encapsulating material which is dissolved in the volatile organic solvent to form a second encapsulated material, and then partially drying the second encapsulated material;

mixing the first encapsulated material with the second encapsulated material before the volatile, organic solvent completely evaporates from the second encapsulated material; and

removing remaining volatile organic solvent to form a free flowing salt and fragrance containing powder, thereby stabilizing the fragrance ingredient.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first encapsulating material is a crosslinked acrylic acid copolymer, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, carboxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, agar, gelatin, guar gum or its derivatives, xanthan gums, algin and alginates.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first encapsulating material is a polysaccharide.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second encapsulating material is polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone co- and ter-polymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol co- and ter-polymers, and acrylate and methacrylate co- and ter-polymers.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the volatile organic solvent is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, methylene chloride, or 1,1,1-trichloromethane.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first encapsulating material is a water soluble, alcohol insoluble polymer, the solvent for the first encapsulating material is water, the second encapsulating material is polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a copolymer thereof, and the solvent for the second encapsulating material is an alcohol.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second encapsulating material is an alcohol and water soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the second encapsulating material further includes a dye or pigment.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the second encapsulating material is agar or a derivative thereof.

10. A composition which comprises a powdered or granular admixture of a salt and a fragrance ingredient; the salt encapsulated with a first material, which is soluble in a volatile organic solvent; and the fragrance encapsulated with a water soluble second material, which is insoluble in the volatile organic solvent.

11. A composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the second material is a cross-linked acrylic acid copolymer, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, carboxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, agar, gelatin, guar gum or its derivatives, xanthan gums, algin and alginates.

12. A composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the second material is a polysaccharide.

13. A composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the first material is polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone co- and ter-polymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol co- and ter-polymers, and acrylate and methacrylate co- and ter-polymers.

14. A composition in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the volatile organic solvent is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, methylene chloride, or 1,1,1-trichloromethane.

15. A composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the second material is a water soluble, alcohol insoluble polymer, and the solvent for the first coating material is an alcohol.

16. A composition in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the first material is an alcohol and water soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer.

17. A composition in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the first material further includes a dye or pigment.

18. A composition in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the second material is crosslinked acrylic acid copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, carboxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, agar, gelatin, guar gum, derivatized guar gums, xanthan gums, algin and alginates or other polysaccharides.

19. A composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the fragrance is encapsulated with the second material and admixed with the salt after encapsulating the salt with the first material before the first material is dried.

20. A method for stabilization of a fragrance in a salt mixture, comprising the steps of:

encapsulating the fragrance ingredient with an encapsulating material which is insoluble in a volatile organic solvent to form a first encapsulated material;

encapsulating the salt in a second encapsulating material which is soluble in the volatile organic solvent to form a second encapsulated material, and then partially drying the second encapsulated material;

mixing the first encapsulated material with the second encapsulated material before the second encapsulated material is completely dried; and

removing remaining volatile organic to form a free flowing salt and fragrance containing powder, thereby stabilizing the fragrance ingredient.