EP4776885A1

EP4776885A1 - Heated aerosol-generating article for reduction of off-odour

Info

Publication number: EP4776885A1
Application number: EP24768336.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anneke Glabasnia; Emmanuel Gérard René ROUGET; Jérôme Jean-Yves GIRARD
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2023-09-15
Filing date: 2024-09-12
Publication date: 2026-07-22
Also published as: WO2025056666A1; CN122074028A; KR20260071228A

Abstract

A heated aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol, the heated aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I), wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH₃ or CH₂CH₃, R^b is CH₃ or CH₂CH₃ and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

Description

HEATED AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE FOR REDUCTION OF OFF-ODOUR

The present disclosure relates to a heated aerosol-generating article and material for use in such an article. In particular, the invention relates to an aerosol-generating material that is suitable for use in a heated aerosol-generating article, such as, for example, a “heat-not-burn” type article.

Aerosol-generating articles in which an aerosol-generating substrate, such as a tobaccocontaining substrate or a non-tobacco-containing substrate, is heated rather than combusted, are known in the art. Typically in such heated smoking articles, an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol-generating substrate or material, which may be located in contact with, within, around, or downstream of the heat source. During use of the aerosol-generating article, volatile compounds are released from the aerosolgenerating substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and are entrained in air drawn through the aerosol-generating article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol.

A number of prior art documents disclose aerosol-generating devices for consuming heated aerosol-generating articles. Such devices include, for example, electrically heated aerosol-generating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heater elements of the aerosol-generating device to the aerosol-generating substrate of a heated aerosol-generating article. One advantage of such electrically heated aerosol-generating devices is that they significantly reduce sidestream smoke.

Tobacco material used as a substrate in an aerosol-generating article is commonly selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf and cut filler.

Reconstituted tobacco sheet and cast leaf may contain parts of the tobacco plant that are less suited for the production of cut filler, for example tobacco stems or dust. The process to form tobacco material sheets commonly comprises a step in which tobacco and a binder are mixed to form a slurry. The slurry is then used to create a tobacco web. For example, a tobacco web may be formed by casting a viscous slurry onto a moving metal belt to produce so called cast leaf. Alternatively, a slurry with low viscosity and high water content can be used to create reconstituted tobacco in a process that resembles paper-making.

The term "cast leaf' may be used, in particular, to denote a form of homogenised tobacco material formed by a casting process that is based on casting a slurry comprising tobacco particles (alone or in a mixture with other plant particles) and a binder (such as, for example, guar gum) onto a supportive surface, such as a belt conveyor, drying the slurry and removing the dried sheet from the supportive surface. An example of the casting or cast leaf process is described in, for example, US-A-5,724,998 for making cast leaf tobacco. In a cast leaf process, particulate plant materials are produced by pulverizing, grinding, or comminuting parts of the plant. The particles produced from one or more plants are mixed with a liquid component, typically water, to form a slurry. Other components in the slurry may include additional fibres, a binder and an aerosol former. The particulate plant materials may be agglomerated in the presence of the binder. The slurry is cast onto a supportive surface and dried into a sheet of homogenised tobacco material.

The tobacco particles may be in the form of a tobacco dust comprising particles having an average diameter of the order of 30 to 80 micrometres or 100 to 250 micrometres, depending on the desired sheet thickness and casting gap. The additional fibres may include particles of tobacco stem material, stalks or other tobacco plant material, and other cellulose-based fibres such as wood fibres having a low lignin content. The type and size of the fibre particles may be selected with a view to adjusting the tensile strength of the cast leaf. Further, alternative fibres, such as vegetable fibres including hemp and bamboo may be used either with the above fibres or in alternative to the above fibres.

A suitable process for forming a sheet of reconstituted tobacco is the so-called papermaking process. In a first step of such process, a tobacco-containing material (alone or in a mixture with another plant material) is mixed with water to form a dilute suspension comprising mostly of separate cellulose fibres. This first step may involve soaking and applying heat. The suspension has a lower viscosity and a higher water content than the slurry produced in the casting process. The suspension may then be separated into an insoluble portion containing solid fibrous components and a liquid or aqueous portion comprising soluble tobacco substances. The water remaining in the insoluble fibrous portion may be drained through a screen, acting as a sieve, such that a web of randomly interwoven fibres may be laid down. Water may be further removed from this web by pressing with rollers, sometimes aided by suction or vacuum. When most of the moisture has been removed, a generally flat, uniform sheet of tobacco fibres is achieved. The soluble tobacco substances that were removed from the sheet may be concentrated, and the concentrated tobacco substances may be added back to the sheet resulting in a sheet of homogenised tobacco material. This process, as described in US 3,860,012, has been used with tobacco to make reconstituted tobacco products, also known as tobacco paper.

Other known processes that can be applied to producing sheets of homogenised tobacco material are dough reconstitution processes of the type described in, for example, US-A- 3,894,544; and extrusion processes of the type described in, for example, in GB-A-983,928. Typically, the densities of homogenised tobacco materials produced by extrusion processes and dough reconstitution processes are greater than the densities of the homogenised tobacco materials produced by casting processes.

Conventionally, cut filler tobacco material is formed predominantly from the lamina portion of the tobacco leaf, which is separated from the stem portion of the leaf during a threshing process. As a way of example, to produce cut filler tobacco material, tobacco leaves are sprayed with water, steam and glycerin inside a rotary cylinder. The water and steam soften and open the leaves, while the glycerin protects the tobacco from overheating and can create aerosol when the tobacco material is consumed. The leaves are then processed in a cutter machine to produce strips up to 1 mm in width. The strips are then dried at a high temperature to reach the target humidity. After the drying process, additional “ready-to-use” tobacco components (like stems) may be added to the lamina strips. Then, for example, flavour is sprayed on the product inside a rotary chamber to give the final taste to the substrate. The product is then conveyed in a silo where it is blended to reach homogeneity. The final mix is the “cut filler”. Another way to produce cut filler involves cutting a sheet of reconstituted tobacco which has been produced by e.g. the casting or paper-making methods described above. The reconstituted tobacco sheet may be cut in a similar fashion as that described above with respect to the tobacco leaves. The cut reconstituted tobacco sheet may be used as cut filler alone, or combined with other cut or shredded tobacco.

In other examples, the aerosol-generating material used in a substrate of an aerosolgenerating article may be a material which does not contain tobacco. For example, WO 2022/074157 discloses an aerosol-forming substrate which contains hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, a cellulose based strengthening agent and at least one aerosol former, wherein the aerosol former content is greater than 30 percent by weight. The aerosol-forming substrate may contain nicotine.

In a heated aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating substrate including an aerosol-generating material is heated to a relatively low temperature, for example, about 350 degrees Celsius, in order to form an inhalable aerosol. In order that an aerosol may be formed, the aerosol-generating material preferably comprises high proportions of aerosol formers and humectants, such as glycerine or propylene glycol. Compared to conventional combustible cigarettes, the aerosol-generating material typically comprises a higher proportion of aerosol formers and humectants, for example, between 15 to 75 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material.

To create an aerosol, aerosol formers must be released from the aerosol-generating material. In order to be released, these aerosol formers must migrate from within the body of the aerosol-generating material to surfaces of the aerosol-generating material. Other volatile compounds, such as nicotine, must also migrate from within the body of the aerosol-generating material to become entrained in the aerosol.

It is important in the field of heated aerosol-generating articles to reduce unpleasant odours that are generated by the article as much as possible.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heated aerosolgenerating article for producing an inhalable aerosol, the heated aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3, and R_a and Rb can be the same or different.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosolgenerating material for use as an aerosol-generating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article according to the first aspect of the invention, in which the aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making an aerosol-generating material according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

- heating the deodorising agent above the melting point of the deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein e can be the same or different; - introducing the deodorising agent to the aerosol-generating material; and

- solidifying the deodorising agent by cooling the deodorising agent below the melting point of the deodorising agent.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element; and an aerosol generating article for use with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

Unpleasant smells, often referred to as “off-odour” in the art, are perceived by some users of heated tobacco products. In particular, off-odour may generally occur at the pre-heating phase of the heat-not-burn product, and is thought to occur due to the volatilisation, or the degradation and volatilisation, of compounds in the heated-aerosol generating article, such as in the substrate portion of the article, or in a wrapper portion of the article which circumscribes the aerosolgenerating substrate and which may be made of, for example, a paper-based material. Some examples of compounds which are volatilised and emitted from a heat-not-burn article, and are thought to contribute to off-odour are carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide.

Off-odour can make the experience of using a heat-not-burn product unpleasant for the user, and also for those around the user. Therefore, there is a need in the art to reduce off-odour in heat-not-burn products.

Advantageously, the present inventors have found that by providing a substrate comprising an aerosol-generating material comprising a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound according to formula (I), then off-odour is, at least partially, reduced. The reduction in off-odour is thought to occur due to a decrease in the emitted concentration of compounds which contribute to off-odour (such as carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide, as mentioned above). Without wishing to be bound by theory, the reduction in off-odour contributing compounds is thought to be because in use, during the pre-heating phase of the heated-aerosol generating device, the compound according to formula (I) can degrade to provide benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid. Advantageously, it has been found that benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid, is released from the aerosol-generating material in a controlled manner. Consequently, the benzoic acid may effectively oxidise compounds which contribute to off-odour. Thus, the concentration of compounds contributing to off-odour may be reduced. Accordingly, and advantageously, off-odour may be mitigated when utilising a heated-aerosol generating article according to the present invention.

Advantageously, the deodorising agent according to the present invention has been shown to exhibit a satisfactory toxicological profile at a preliminary assessment, and thus may be suitable for use in a heated aerosol-generating article, intended to be used by a user. Advantageously, it has been found that the degradation products of the deodorising agent exhibit a satisfactory toxicological profile in the context of the invention at a preliminary assessment. Therefore, the deodorising agent may be suitable for use in a heated aerosol-generating article.

Advantageously, the method of making the aerosol-generating material according to the present invention involves providing the deodorising agent as a liquid. Thus, beneficially, the deodorising agent can be easily introduced, for example, into the aerosol-generating material, or, for example, as a layer on a surface of the aerosol-generating material. The deodorising agent may also be easily mixed with a carrier compound for introduction to the aerosol-generating material. Beneficially, a deodorising agent according to the present invention may be included in the aerosol-generating material in a straightforward process. Advantageously, the method according to the present invention may enable the deodorising agent to be evenly distributed in or on the aerosol-generating material.

Preferably, in some examples the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant. For example, the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with menthol. Advantageously, the compound according to formula (I) is therefore available to directly degrade to its degradation products.

It has been found that the compound according to formula (I) is degradable to benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid. Preferably, the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid. The compound according to formula (I) may degrade to benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid from 150 to 250 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the compound according to formula (I) may be considered to be a source of benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid, in the aerosol-generating material. Advantageously, it is thought that benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid, is an effective oxidant of compounds which contribute to off-odour, and thus the compound according to formula (I) acting as a source of benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid can effectively reduce, at least partially, off-odour generated by the heated aerosol-generating article. Advantageously, benzoic acid has been shown to exhibit a satisfactory toxicological profile in the context of the invention at a preliminary assessment. Therefore the compound according to formula (I) as a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid may be suitable for use in a heated aerosol-generating article.

Preferably, the deodorising agent is stable to degradation at 80 degrees Celsius. The deodorising agent preferably does not breakdown or degrade to its degradation products at 80 degrees Celsius. Advantageously, the deodorising agent therefore does not degrade at room temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the deodorising agent remains stable (e.g. the deodorising agent does not degrade) in the aerosol-generating material, e.g. during transport and before the heated aerosol-generating article is used by a user.

In some examples, the melting point of the compound according to formula (I) is from 140 to 180 degrees Celsius. Advantageously, the compound according to formula (I) may be a solid at room temperature, for example, at 25 degrees Celsius, and permits straightforward handling and use of the aerosol-generating article.

In some examples, the compound according to formula (I) is preferably dibenzoyl-L- tartaric acid. Advantageously, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid has been found to be a precursor to benzoic acid. For example, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid may degrade to provide benzoic acid. Dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid may degrade to provide benzoic acid at a temperature range of from 150 to 250 degrees Celsius. Advantageously, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid may be a source of benzoic acid in the aerosol-generating material. Advantageously, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid has been shown to exhibit a satisfactory toxicological profile in the context of the invention at a preliminary assessment. Therefore, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid may be suitable for use in an aerosol-generating article.

In other examples, the compound according to formula (I) is preferably ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid. Advantageously, ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid has been found to be a precursor to a substituted benzoic acid. For example, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid may degrade to provide a substituted benzoic acid. For instance, ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid may degrade at a temperature range of from 150 to 250 degrees Celsius to provide toluic acid. Advantageously, ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid has been shown to exhibit a satisfactory toxicological profile in the context of the invention at a preliminary assessment. Therefore, ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid may be suitable for use in an aerosol-generating article.

In examples, the aerosol-generating material comprises the compound according to formula (I) in an amount of from 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material. Preferably, the aerosol-generating material comprises the compound according to formula (I) in an amount of from 0.05 weight percent to 8 weight percent, preferably of from 0.1 weight percent to 5 weight percent, more preferably, the aerosol-generating material comprises the compound according to formula (I) in an amount of from 0.3 weight percent to 4 weight percent, and more preferably still from 0.5 to 3 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material.

In some examples, the deodorising agent is distributed within the aerosol-generating material. The deodorising agent may be evenly distributed within the aerosol-generating material. Evenly distributed within the aerosol-generating material means that at room temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius, there are preferably no separately distinguishable regions of deodorising agent and aerosol-generating material. For example, the deodorising agent and aerosol-generating material are fully homogenised.

The deodorising agent may be provided on a surface of the aerosol-generating material. In some examples, the deodorising agent may be provided as a layer on a surface of the aerosolgenerating material, which means that the deodorising agent is arranged on a surface of the aerosol-generating material, such that the deodorising agent is a separately distinguishable entity from the aerosol-generating material.

Preferably, the deodorising agent is provided in a carrier compound and then provided onto a surface of the aerosol-generating material. Advantageously, providing the deodorising agent in a carrier compound may help to deliver an even distribution of the deodorising agent on the surface of the aerosol-generating material. A carrier compound may be considered to be a compound which can be aerosolised and serve as a carrier for substances, such as nicotine, thus improving the delivery of said substances to the user. Preferably, the carrier compound is propylene glycol, glycerin or ethanol.

In some examples, the aerosol-generating material comprises a tobacco-containing material. The term tobacco-containing material is used to refer to any material comprising tobacco, including, but not limited to, tobacco leaf, tobacco rib, tobacco stem, tobacco stalk, tobacco dust, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco material and homogenised tobacco material. Preferably, the tobacco-containing material is selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf or cut filler (e.g. cut filler formed from tobacco leaves and/or cut reconstituted tobacco sheet), as described above.

In other examples, the aerosol-generating material may comprise a non-tobacco- containing material. A non-tobacco-containing material is used to refer to a material suitable for use in an aerosol-generating substrate and does not comprise tobacco. Thus, the non-tobacco- containing material is substantially free of tobacco (for example, the non-tobacco-containing material contains of from less than 1 weight percent of tobacco, preferably of from less than 0.5 weight percent of tobacco, and even more preferably of from less than 0.1 weight percent of tobacco) or does not contain any determinable amount of tobacco. In some embodiments, the non-tobacco-containing material may be a nicotine-formulation. Preferably, the nicotine- formulation is not derived from a tobacco-containing material. For example, the aerosolgenerating material be a gel or film composition that includes nicotine, at least one gelling agent and an aerosol former. An aerosol-generating substrate comprising a non-tobacco-containing aerosol generating material may contain hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, a cellulose based strengthening agent and at least one aerosol former, wherein the aerosol former content is greater than 30 percent by weight.

The aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol former. The aerosol former may be any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, facilitates formation of a dense and stable aerosol. The aerosol former may be facilitating that the aerosol is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at temperatures typically applied during use of the aerosolgenerating article. Suitable aerosol formers are for example: polyhydric alcohols such as, for example, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, propylene glycol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols such as, for example, glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids such as, for example, dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate; and combinations thereof.

The aerosol former may comprise one or more of glycerine and propylene glycol. The aerosol former may consist of glycerine or propylene glycol or of a combination of glycerine and propylene glycol.

In embodiments where the aerosol-generating material according to the specification is a tobacco-containing material, such as cast leaf or cut filler, and is intended for use in an aerosolgenerating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating material may have an aerosol-former content of from about 5 percent to about 30 percent by weight on a dry weight basis. A tobacco-containing aerosol-generating material intended for use in an electrically- operated aerosol-generating system having a heating element may preferably include an aerosol former from about 5 percent to about 20 percent of dry weight of the aerosol-generating material, for example from about 15 percent to about 20 percent of dry weight aerosol-generating material.

Typically, in examples where the aerosol-generating material is a non-tobacco-containing material, the aerosol-generating material preferably comprises a greater amount of aerosolformer than would be present in examples where the aerosol-generating material is a tobaccocontaining material. In embodiments where the aerosol-generating material according to the specification is a non-tobacco-containing material and is intended for use in an aerosol-generating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating material may have an aerosol-former content of from about 30 percent to about 70 percent by weight on a dry weight basis. A non-tobacco-containing aerosol-generating material intended for use in an electrically- operated aerosol-generating system having a heating element may preferably include an aerosol former from about 35 percent to about 60 percent of dry weight of the aerosol-generating material, for example from about 40 percent to about 55 percent of dry weight aerosol-generating material. For aerosol-generating materials intended for use in an electrically operated aerosolgenerating system having a heating element, the aerosol former may preferably be glycerol (also known as glycerin or glycerine) or propylene glycol.

Preferably, the aerosol former is selected from the list consisting of propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, glycerine, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. The aerosol-former is preferably glycerine. In other embodiments, the aerosol-former is preferably propylene glycol. In other embodiments still, the aerosol-former is a mixture of glycerine and propylene glycol.

In some examples of making the aerosol-generating, the deodorising agent is introduced to the aerosol-generating material prior to a flavourant. This is thought to prevent, for example, at least partially, the deodorising agent forming a complex with the flavourant. A flavourant may be considered to be a chemical compound which provides a desirable flavour or scent. Examples of flavourants include, but are not limited to vanillin, linalool, menthol, guaiacol, thymol, coumarin, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and geraniol.

The method of introducing the deodorising agent to the aerosol-generating material may comprise providing the compound according to formula (I) in a slurry comprising the aerosolgenerating material, and then casting the slurry to form a sheet of aerosol-generating material. Advantageously, the deodorising agent may therefore be distributed evenly in the aerosolgenerating material.

In some examples, the method of introducing the deodorising agent to the aerosolgenerating material comprises spraying the compound according to formula (I) onto the aerosolgenerating material.

For example, the deodorising agent may be directly sprayed onto the surface of the aerosol-generating material. In other examples, the deodorising agent may be provided in a carrier compound and then sprayed onto the surface of the aerosol-generating material. Advantageously, the deodorising agent may be deposited as an even layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

As referenced, the term “heated aerosol-generating article” refers to an aerosolgenerating article for producing an aerosol comprising an aerosol-generating substrate that is intended to be heated rather than combusted in order to release volatile compounds that can form an aerosol.

As referenced, the term “aerosol-generating material” refers to a material capable of releasing upon heating volatile compounds, which can form an aerosol. The aerosol generated from aerosol-generating substrates of aerosol-generating articles described herein may be visible or invisible and may include vapours (for example, fine particles of substances, which are in a gaseous state, that are ordinarily liquid or solid at room temperature) as well as gases and liquid droplets of condensed vapours. As referred to, the term “aerosol former” refers to a component that can be volatilized and convey a desired substance, for example, nicotine and/or flavouring, in an aerosol when the aerosol-generating material is heated above the specific volatilization temperature of the aerosol former. An aerosol former may be any suitable compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, facilitates formation of a dense and stable aerosol and is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the heated aerosol-generating article. Different aerosol formers vaporize at different temperatures. Thus, an aerosol former may be chosen based on its ability to remain stable at or around room temperature but volatize at a higher temperature, for example from 40 to 450 degrees Celsius.

As referenced, the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant, which means that the compound according to formula (I) is not attached or bonded to a flavourant. There are substantially no covalent or non-covalent bonds formed between the compound according to formula (I) and the flavourant. For example, the compound according to formula (I) does not form a supramolecular assembly with a flavourant.

In some embodiments, the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid, which means that under temperature conditions of from 150 to 250 degrees Celsius, the compound according to formula (I) will degrade, at least partially, to provide benzoic acid, or a substituted benzoic acid if R^a or R^b is present and is CH3 or CH2CH3 in the compound according to formula (I).

As referred to, “a substituted benzoic acid” refers to a molecule of benzoic acid wherein a hydrogen atom in at least one of the meta-, para- or ortho- positions in the aromatic ring is replaced with a substituent. For instance, in some examples of the present invention, a substituted benzoic acid may refer to a benzoic acid wherein a hydrogen atom in the aromatic ring is replaced with a methyl or ethyl substituent group. An example of a substituted benzoic acid is toluic acid.

As referenced, the term “melting point” refers to the clear point or complete melting point of the lipid. This corresponds to the temperature, in degrees Celsius, at which the lipid is fully liquid and completely clear with no solid particles remaining. Many methods known in the art can be used to measure the clear point melting point of a lipid, for example, the capillary technique or Stuart SMP50 melting point apparatus.

As referenced, the term “aerosol-generating device” refers to a device comprising a heater element that interacts with the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

EX1. A heated aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol, the heated aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol- generating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3, and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

EX2. A heated aerosol-generating article according to example EX1 , wherein the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant.

EX3. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX2, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid.

EX4. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX3, wherein the deodorising agent is stable to degradation at 80 degrees Celsius.

EX5. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX4, wherein the melting point of the compound according to formula (I) is from 140 to 180 degrees Celsius.

EX6. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX5, wherein each n is 0 or 1.

EX7. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX6, wherein both n are the same.

EX8. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX7, wherein each n is 0.

EX9. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX7, wherein each n is i .

EX10. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX9, wherein R^a and R^b are the same.

EX11. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX10, wherein R^a is CH3.

EX12. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX11 , wherein R^b is CH3.

EX13. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX12, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid. EX14. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX12, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX15. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX14, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is provided in the aerosol-generating material an amount of from 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosolgenerating material.

EX16. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX15, wherein the deodorising agent is distributed within the aerosol-generating material.

EX17. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX16, wherein the deodorising agent is provided on a surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX18. A heated aerosol-generating article according to example EX17, wherein the deodorising agent is provided as a layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX19. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX17 to EX 18, wherein the deodorising agent is provided in a carrier compound and then provided on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX20. A heated aerosol-generating article according to example EX19, wherein the carrier compound is propylene glycol, glycerin or ethanol.

EX21. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX20, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a tobacco-containing material.

EX22. A heated aerosol-generating material according to example EX21 , wherein the tobacco-containing material is selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf or cut filler.

EX23. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX20, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a non-tobacco-containing material.

EX24. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX23, in which the aerosol former is selected from the list consisting of propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, glycerine, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

EX25. An aerosol-generating material for use as an aerosol-generating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article according to any of examples EX1 to EX24, in which the aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

EX26. An aerosol-generating material according to example EX25, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant.

EX27. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX26, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid.

EX28. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX27, wherein the deodorising agent is stable to degradation at 80 degrees Celsius.

EX29. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX28, wherein the melting point of the compound according to formula (I) is from 140 to 180 degrees Celsius.

EX30. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX29, wherein each n is 0 or 1.

EX31. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX30, wherein both n are the same.

EX32. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX31 , wherein each n is 0.

EX33. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX31 , wherein each n is i .

EX34. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX33, wherein R^a and R^b are the same.

EX35. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX34, wherein R^a is CH3.

EX36. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX35, wherein R^b is CH3.

EX37. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX36, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX38. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX36, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX39. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX38, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is provided in the aerosol-generating material an amount of from 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosolgenerating material.

EX40. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX39, wherein the deodorising agent is distributed within the aerosol-generating material. EX41. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX40, wherein the deodorising agent is provided on a surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX42. An aerosol-generating material according to example EX41 , wherein the deodorising agent is provided as a layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX43. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX41 to EX42, wherein the deodorising agent is provided in a carrier compound and then provided on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX44. An aerosol-generating material according to example EX43, wherein the carrier compound is propylene glycol, glycerin or ethanol.

EX45. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX44, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a tobacco-containing material.

EX46. An aerosol-generating material according to example EX45, wherein the tobaccocontaining material is selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf or cut filler.

EX47. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX44, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a non-tobacco-containing material.

EX48. An aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX47, in which the aerosol former is selected from the list consisting of propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, glycerine, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

EX49. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX25 to EX48, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

- heating the deodorising agent above the melting point of the deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

- introducing the deodorising agent to the aerosol-generating material; and

- solidifying the deodorising agent by cooling the deodorising agent below the melting point of the deodorising agent. EX50. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to example EX49, wherein the deodorising agent is introduced to the aerosol-generating material prior to a flavourant.

EX51. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX50, wherein the method of introducing the deodorising agent into the aerosolgenerating material comprises providing the compound according to formula (I) in a slurry comprising the aerosol-generating material, and then casting the slurry to form a sheet of aerosolgenerating material.

EX52. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX51 , wherein the method of introducing the deodorising agent into the aerosolgenerating material comprises spraying the compound according to formula (I) onto the aerosolgenerating material.

EX53. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to example EX52, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is provided in a carrier compound and then sprayed onto the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX54. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX53, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant.

EX55. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX54, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid.

EX56. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX55, wherein the deodorising agent is stable to degradation at 80 degrees Celsius.

EX57. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX56, wherein the melting point of the compound according to formula (I) is from 140 to 180 degrees Celsius.

EX58. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX57, wherein each n is 0 or 1.

EX59. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX58, wherein both n are the same.

EX60. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX59, wherein each n is 0.

EX61. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX59, wherein each n is 1 .

EX62. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX61 , wherein R^a and R^b are the same.

EX63. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX62, wherein R^a is CH3. EX64. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX63, wherein R^b is CH3.

EX65. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX64, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX66. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX64, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX67. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX66, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is provided in the aerosolgenerating material an amount of from 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material.

EX68. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX67, wherein the deodorising agent is distributed within the aerosol-generating material.

EX69. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX68, wherein the deodorising agent is provided on a surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX70. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to example EX69, wherein the deodorising agent is provided as a layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX71. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX69 to EX70, wherein the deodorising agent is provided in a carrier compound and then provided on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX72. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to example EX71 , wherein the carrier compound is propylene glycol, glycerin or ethanol.

EX73. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX72, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a tobacco-containing material.

EX74. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to example EX73, wherein the tobacco-containing material is selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf or cut filler.

EX75. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX72, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a non-tobacco-containing material.

EX76. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to any of examples EX49 to EX75, in which the aerosol former is selected from the list consisting of propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, glycerine, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

EX77. An aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element; and an aerosol generating article for use with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosolgenerating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

EX78. An aerosol generating system according to example EX77, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant.

EX79. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX78, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid.

EX80. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX79, wherein the deodorising agent is stable to degradation at 80 degrees Celsius.

EX81. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX80, wherein the melting point of the compound according to formula (I) is from 140 to 180 degrees Celsius.

EX82. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX81 , wherein each n is 0 or 1.

EX83. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX82, wherein both n are the same.

EX84. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX83, wherein each n is 0.

EX85. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX83, wherein each n is i .

EX86. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX85, wherein R^a and R^b are the same.

EX87. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX86, wherein R^a is CH3. EX88. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX87, wherein R^b is CH3.

EX89. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX88, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX90. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX88, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid.

EX91. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX90, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is provided in the aerosol-generating material an amount of from 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosolgenerating material.

EX92. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX91 , wherein the deodorising agent is distributed within the aerosol-generating material.

EX93. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX92, wherein the deodorising agent is provided on a surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX94. An aerosol generating system according to example EX93, wherein the deodorising agent is provided as a layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX95. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX93 to EX94, wherein the deodorising agent is provided in a carrier compound and then provided on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

EX96. An aerosol generating system according to example EX95, wherein the carrier compound is propylene glycol, glycerin or ethanol.

EX97. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX96, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a tobacco-containing material.

EX98. An aerosol generating system according to example EX97, wherein the tobaccocontaining material is selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf or cut filler.

EX99. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX96, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises a non-tobacco-containing material.

EX100. An aerosol generating system according to any of examples EX77 to EX99, in which the aerosol former is selected from the list consisting of propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, glycerine, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

Example 1 - Headspace GM-MS evaluation of cast leaf aerosol generating material

Materials and Methods

• Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer Shimadzu QP-2010 Ultra or QP-2010 Plus equipped with a split/splitless injector and GCMS solution software.

• Autosampler, Shimadzu AOC-5000, equipped with headspace option (temperature controlled and gas flushed syringe). • Headspace syringe kit 2,5 mL, Gerstel ref# 010055-025-00 (or equivalent).

• 2.5 mL Syringe - HS-0.64-57.0-R-H (PTFE) for Gerstel headspace syringe holder, Gerstel ref# 022001-326-00 (or equivalent).

• Split/Splitless Inj FocusLiner™ LNRGC2010/2014, 3.4mm ID, Shimadzu ref# 221-75188 (or equivalent).

• Inlet septa, high temperature Thermogreen (maximum injector temperature 450°C), Shimadzu ref# 221-35507-02SP.

• J&W Porabond Q analytical column, 25m x 0.25mm x 3.0um, Agilent ref# CP7348 (or equivalent). • Programmed electronic aerosol-generating holder device (iQOS 2.2).

Shimadzu QP2010 qas chromatoqraph-mass spectrometer instrumental acquisition parameters: Mass-spectrometry instrumental acquisition parameters

Hydrogen 1 .00-1.90 0.50-1.75 SIM 0.30 1.27 1.21 34 NA sulfide

Carbonyi 1.90.3.50 1.75-2.90 SIM 0.30 1.27 1.21 60 NA sulfide

Parameters for building data processing method

„ _x. Typical Typical

Calibration . Typical retention retention standards _x. .. .. Quantificat Qualifier

. , calibration time for time for . .

. , . _ to be ion ion ion

Anaiyte Type _{inc|uded in} range targe targe x. analyte on analyte on , , , , , , cahbration , , , , „ m/z m/z ng/mL QP-2010 QP-2019 curve ^{1 J 1 J}

Ultra [min] Plus [min]

STD1 -

Hydrogen sulfide Target cpd STD6 2.2-90 1.47 1.28 34 NA

STD1 -

Carbonyl sulfide Target cpd _STD6 3.8-160 2.10 1.82 60 NA

Sample preparation

A reference sample of cast-leaf was prepared in accordance with a conventional method known in the art, wherein the reference sample comprised 75 percent tobacco and 19.5 percent aerosol former. The reference sample did not include any deodorising agent.

Sample 1 was prepared in the same way as the reference sample. However, a solution of dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid in ethanol at 0.3 weight percent, based on the weight of the cast leaf, was applied to sample 1 by injection.

Sample 2 was prepared in the same way as the reference sample. However, a solution of dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid in ethanol at 3.3 weight percent, based on the weight of the cast leaf, was applied to sample 2 by injection.

Testing procedure

Hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide are released during the pre-heating phase of a heated aerosol-generating article and contribute to off-odour perceived by users.

Testing was conducted on the reference sample, sample 1 and sample 2, in order to quantify the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide in the headspace of the heated-aerosol-generating material during the pre-heating phase.

The samples were aerosolised using a programmed electronic aerosol-generating holder device (wherein the holder device switched off after a 30s pre-heating phase) inside a 60mL headspace glass vial. The headspace of each sample was analysed using a GC-EI-MS instrument (Shimadzu QP2010 ultra and/or Shimadzu QP2010 plus) in selective ion monitoring mode (SIM).

Calibration of instrument response was achieved using gas mixture calibration standards of the two target compounds at known concentrations in air and response function was built using external standard and linear regression models.

In the present example, four collection replicates (four distinct measurement solutions) were generated to quantify a sample.

Results

The results of the headspace evaluation are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

In the table above, CV stands for the “Coefficient of variation” (Relative standard deviation/Average (percent)).

The results show that for the reference sample, which does not contain a deodorising agent, there is no detectable reduction in the concentration of hydrogen sulfide. Similarly, there is no detectable reduction in the emitted concentration of carbonyl sulfide in the reference sample.

However, in sample 1 , which contains the deodorising agent at 0.3 weight percent, the emitted concentrations of each of hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide are reduced, at 18 percent reduction and 14 percent reduction, respectively.

The reduction in each of the off-odour contributing compounds is more pronounced with respect to Sample 2, which contains a higher content of deodorising agent. In sample 2, the percentage of reduction of hydrogen sulfide is 44 percent, and the percentage of reduction of carbonyl sulfide is 38 percent.

Accordingly, it can be observed from these results that compounds which contribute to off-odour, such as hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide, are reduced in an aerosol-generating material which contains a deodorising agent. Thus, embodiments of the present invention can effectively reduce off-odour in heat-not-burn products. For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 5 % of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. A heated aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol, the heated aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CHs or CF^CHs, R^b is CHs or CF^CHs, and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

2. A heated aerosol-generating article according to claim 1 , wherein the compound according to formula (I) is not complexed with a flavourant.

3. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is a precursor to benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid.

4. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deodorising agent is stable to degradation at 80 degrees Celsius.

5. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the melting point of the compound according to formula (I) is from 140 to 180 degrees Celsius.

6. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the compound according to formula (I) is dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid or ditoluloyl-L-tartaric acid.

7. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the aerosolgenerating material comprises the compound according to formula (I) in an amount of from 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material.

8. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the deodorising agent is distributed within the aerosol-generating material.

9. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the deodorising agent is provided on a surface of the aerosol-generating material.

10. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosolgenerating material comprises a tobacco-containing material.

11. A heated aerosol-generating material according to claim 10, wherein the tobacco-containing material is selected from reconstituted tobacco sheet, cast leaf or cut filler.

12. A heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosolgenerating material comprises a non-tobacco-containing material.

13. An aerosol-generating material for use as an aerosol-generating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 12, in which the aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.

14. A method of making an aerosol-generating material according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

- heating the deodorising agent above the melting point of the deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different;

- introducing the deodorising agent to the aerosol-generating material; and - solidifying the deodorising agent by cooling the deodorising agent below the melting point of the deodorising agent.

15. An aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element; and an aerosol generating article for use with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosolgenerating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising an aerosol former and a deodorising agent, wherein the deodorising agent is a compound of formula (I): wherein each n is from 0 to 5, R^a is CH3 or CH2CH3, R^b is CH3 or CH2CH3 and R^a and R^b can be the same or different.