Low voc perfume formulations

Abstract

Oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions of fragrance product formulations are provided. The microemulsions are clear or at least translucent, sprayable, and non-sticky. Novel combinations of anionic surfactant components (a) and hydrophilic coactives (highly water soluble component (b) or a mixture of highly water soluble (b)(i) and less water soluble polar (b)(ii) components) are used to obtain fragrance product formulations that are free or substantially free of ethanol. The anionic surfactants have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance ('HLB') modified by the use of classes of anionic surfactant components (a) and commercially available hydrophilic component coactives ((b) or mixture of (b)(i) and (b)(ii)), not previously recognized as effective in this type of system. Highly, preferably infinitely, water soluble coactives (b) as well as mixtures of highly, preferably infinitely, water soluble coactives (b)(i) with other less water soluble polar coactives (b)(ii), modify the HLB of anionic surfactants in such a way as to enable the formation of stable, clear microemulsions of fragrance product compositions. These compositions contain lower ratios of surfactant to oil than conventional nonionic (or ionic surfactants with lipophilic coactives) aqueous or alcohol free compositions. As such, the present fragrance compositions are sprayable and nonsticky.