Clean-burning fragrance candle with consistent flame size and burn rate

• US 7,410,513 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Requejo, Luz P., Materna, Kim C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toomer; Cephia D
• Application Number:
  US10/291,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 442/75, 431/288
• US Class Current: 44/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/02 using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/002 Ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/023 by casting or melting in a mould

Abstract

A wax composition comprising a high molecular weight aliphatic alcohol, a low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, at least one odorant, and a wax. The odorant is substantially retained in the wax composition when the wax composition is exposed to temperatures below a melting point of the wax composition. Furthermore, the odorant is emitted from the wax composition when the wax composition is exposed to temperatures at or above the melting point of the wax composition.

Claims

1. A candle formed of a wax composition, said wax composition comprising:

(a) a low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate, having a molecular weight of at most about 5000 molecular weight units;

(b) a high molecular weight alcohol, having about 18 to about 22 carbons;

(c) at least one odorant; and

(d) a paraffin wax having the formula C_nH_2n+2, where n is between about 18 and 30, the melting temperature of the paraffin wax is between about 120 and about 160, and the paraffin wax contains 85% or more straight-chain paraffins,

wherein the combination of said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate, said high molecular weight alcohol, and said wax operate to substantially retain the at least one odorant in said candle when said wax composition is exposed to temperatures below a melting point of said wax composition, and to emit said at least one odorant from said candle when said wax composition is exposed to temperatures at or above the melting point of said wax composition, and

wherein said composition contains substantially no microwax.

2. A wax composition according to claim 1, wherein the combination of the low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate and the high molecular weight alcohol cause the crystalline structure of said wax composition to substantially trap said odorant at temperatures below the melting point.

3. A wax composition as recited in claim 1, wherein said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate is in an amount of about 0.5 percent to about 8 percent by weight.

4. A wax composition as recited in claim 1, wherein said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate is in an amount of about 2 percent to about 5 percent by weight.

5. A wax composition as recited in claim 1, wherein said high molecular weight alcohol is in an amount of about 1 percent to about 20 percent by weight.

6. A wax composition as recited in claim 1, wherein said high molecular weight alcohol is in an amount of about 5 percent to about 15 percent by weight.

7. A wax composition as recited in claim 1, wherein said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate is in an amount of about 0.5 percent to about 8 percent by weight, and said high molecular weight alcohol is in an amount of about 1 percent to about 20 percent by weight.

8. A wax composition as recited in claim 2, wherein said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate is in an amount of about 0.5 percent to about 8 percent by weight, and said high molecular weight alcohol is in an amount of about 1 percent to about 20 percent by weight.

9. A wax composition as recited in claim 1, wherein said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate is in an amount of about 0.5 percent to about 8 percent by weight, and said high molecular weight alcohol is in an amount of about 1 percent to about 20 percent by weight.

10. A wax composition as recited in claim 7, wherein said high molecular weight alcohol is an aliphatic alcohol.

11. A wax composition as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one odorant is in an amount of about 0.5 percent to about 30 percent by weight.

12. A wax composition as recited in claim 7, further comprising at least one of a pigment and a dye.

13. A wax composition as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one ultraviolet inhibitor.

14. A wax composition as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one oxidation inhibitor.

15. A method of making a candle, comprising the steps of:

(a) heating a wax at least to its melting point;

(b) mixing (i) a low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate, having a molecular weight of at most about 5000 molecular weight units, (ii) a high molecular weight alcohol, having about 18 to about 22 carbons, and (iii) at least one odorant with the wax to form a wax composition;

(c) casting the wax composition in a mold,

wherein the combination of the low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate, the high molecular weight alcohol, and the wax operate to substantially retain the at least one odorant in the candle when the wax composition is exposed to temperatures below a melting point of the wax composition, and to emit the at least one odorant from the candle when the wax composition is exposed to temperatures at or above the melting point of the wax composition.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein, in said mixing step, the combination of the low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate and high molecular weight alcohol causes crystals of the wax composition cast in said casting step to substantially trap the odorant at or below the melting point.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein, during said method of making the candle, substantially no microwax is added to the wax composition cast in said casting step.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein, in said mixing step, the low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate is added such that the wax composition comprises about 0.5 percent to about 8 percent by weight of the low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein, in said mixing step, the high molecular weight alcohol is added such that the wax composition comprises about 1 percent to about 20 percent by weight of the high molecular weight alcohol.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein, in said mixing step, the high molecular weight alcohol is added such that the wax composition comprises about 1 percent to about 20 percent by weight of the high molecular weight alcohol.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein, in said mixing step, the high molecular weight alcohol added is an aliphatic alcohol.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of heating the wax composition comprises heating to a temperature lower than about 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

23. A method according to claim 15, wherein, in said mixing step, the high molecular weight alcohol added is an aliphatic alcohol.

24. A candle formed of a wax composition and a wick, said wax composition comprising:

(a) a low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate;

(b) a high molecular weight alcohol;

(c) at least one odorant; and

(d) a wax,

wherein the combination of said low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate, said high molecular weight alcohol, and said wax operate to substantially retain the at least one odorant in said candle when said wax composition is exposed to temperatures below a melting point of said wax composition, and to emit said at least one odorant from said candle when said wax composition is exposed to temperatures at or above the melting point of said wax composition, and

wherein said composition contains substantially no microwax.