GB2384228A

GB2384228A - Trial sample package for fragrance products

Info

Publication number: GB2384228A
Application number: GB0201380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Ashmore
Original assignee: COMMUNISIS BBF
Current assignee: COMMUNISIS BBF
Priority date: 2002-01-22
Filing date: 2002-01-22
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-22
Also published as: GB2384228B; GB0201380D0

Abstract

A trial sample package for a fragrance product comprises front and rear sheets 22 connected together to define an envelope and at least one inner sheet 30, that includes a fragrance bearing portion 32, contained within the envelope. The fragrance bearing portion 32 may be printed with a fragrance material that is preferably in the form of rupturable microcapsules. A line of weakness 34 defining a minor area containing the fragrance bearing portion 32 on the inner sheet 30, may be provided so that the minor area can be removed from the rest of the inner sheet 30. The packages are preferably provided as a continuous strip, with each individual package being removable from the strip. The inner sheet 30 is preferably sealed within an end seal of the envelope so that as stub 28 is torn off at line of perforations 26 to open the package the inner sheet 30 is removed with it. Indicia may also be provided on a non-fragrance bearing portion of the inner sheet 30. As an alternative the fragrance bearing portion may be provided on the inner surface of one of the envelope-defining sheets.

Description

Fragrance Packaging The present invention relates to fragrance packaging. In various aspects it relates to a method of packaging that is particularly appropriate for fragrances, to a packaged fragrance, and to various commercial operations employing fragrance packaging. It is mainly concerned with packaging small, individual portions of fragrances, suitable as trial samples.

Shops which sell fragrance products often have sample bottles for customers to try out. It can be difficult for customers to use them to judge new fragrances as they may already be wearing other fragrances, and the shop environment is liable to be heavily scented with a mixture of fragrances. It would thus be convenient to have an economical way of providing samples of fragrances that shop customers can take away with them, or which can be distributed otherwise, e. g. by mail.

Glossy magazines sometimes have advertisements for fragrances that include samples. A page has a flap which bears a scent sample and is folded over and peelably stuck down.

So-called"scratch and sniff"products are also known. A portion of a sheet bears rupturable microcapsules containing odoriferous material.

According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided a packaged fragrance in the form of a stationery article which combines front and rear sheets connected to define an envelope wherein a surface portion of a sheet which is within or serves to delimit the envelope's interior comprises a fragrance-bearing portion. Preferably there is at least one inner sheet which is generally within the envelope. Preferably said at least one inner sheet provides the fragrance-bearing portion. Alternatively the inner face of one of the envelope-defining sheets may provide it. Preferably the fragrance-bearing portion is a minor area of a sheet which has been printed with fragrance material, e. g. rupturable microcapsules containing a fragrance product.

There may be a line of weakness so the minor area can be separated from the rest of the sheet.

The stationery article may be generally similar to a known type of article used for pay advice slips and the like. Thus it may be produced as continuous stationery, separable into individual articles. There may be continuous front and rear webs which are sealed together by marginal and transverse seals, to define the

envelopes. At one side the inner sheets may be trapped in one of the marginal seals. A line of perforation may define a stub portion of an envelope which can be torn away to open the envelope, possibly carrying the insert sheet (s) with it.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole figure is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

The drawing shows a stationery article embodying the invention in the form of a continuous sprocket fed multiply web 10 having removable lateral bands 12 with sprocket holes 14. Thus it can easily be fed e. g. through a dot matrix printer. One unit 16 is shown, demarcated by a pair of lines of perforation 18,20.

Each unit 16 has bands of adhesive around its periphery (continuous marginal bands 24 and transverse bands 25), sealing the front and rear sheets 22 together to define a sealed envelope. At one side, a line of perforation or tear line 26 marks off the adhered region as a removable stub 28. At least one insert (or inner) sheet 30 is provided. This is of smaller width and length than the envelope. One end region is sealed into the stub 28.

The rest of the sheet 30 extends into the envelope, spaced from the other bands of adhesive 24,25. Thus the

stub 28 can be torn free of the rest of the envelope, bringing the insert sheet 30 with it. There may be a tear line in the sheet 30 for freeing its main portion from the end region sealed into the stub.

The sheet 30 has a band 32 which bears a fragrance.

Typically this is produced by a printing technique, using a fragranced ink composition or a microcapsule composition. The band may be in an end portion of the sheet 30 which is separated from the rest of the sheet by a tear line 34. The rest of the sheet may be printed with matter relating to the perfume and/or how it may be purchased, e. g. comprising a discount voucher.

A sealed envelope, containing a scent sample, can be separated from the continuous web, and the marginal strips 12 can be torn free to provide a neat envelope with many possible methods of use. It is easily inserted into a magazine. It also has an ideal format for handing out in department stores and other outlets. Customers can take such swatches away to try later when they may not be wearing other perfumes. Most shops have a sample to try but the smell can be distorted if the customer is already wearing a perfume. Additionally, other perfumes in the same location may distort the smell.

The envelopes can be mailed out to a specific customer base in a direct mail campaign and are also

ideal for a door drop campaign. They could be ordered over the internet as sample swatches. They can be mailed far cheaper that a bottled sample.

They can incorporate other product information such as retail outlets on additional insert sheets.

In a simpler variant which may not include insert sheets, the fragrance, and possibly printed text, is provided on the inner face of one of the front and rear sheets 22.

Claims

1) A stationery article which comprises front and rear sheets connected to define an envelope and at least one inner sheet which is generally within the envelope ; wherein a surface portion of at least one said inner sheet has a fragrance-bearing portion.

2) A stationery article according to claim 1 wherein said fragrance-bearing portion is an area of a sheet which has been printed with fragrance material.

3) A stationery article according to claim 2 wherein said printed fragrance material is rupturable microcapsules containing a fragrance product.

4) A stationery article according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said at least one inner sheet has a line of weakness so the minor area can be separated from the rest of the sheet.

5) A stationery article according to a preceding claim which is in the form of a continuous stationery product separable into individual articles.

6) A stationery article according to claim 5 wherein the continuous stationery product has continuous front and rear webs which are sealed together by marginal and transverse seals, to define the envelopes; and

respective said inner sheets for respective envelopes are trapped in one of the marginal seals.

7) A stationery article according to claim 6 wherein a line of perforation is provided which defines a stub portion of an envelope which can be torn away to open the envelope, carrying the inner sheet (s) with it.

8) A stationery article according to any preceding claim wherein said inner sheet has a non-fragrancebearing portion which bears printed indicia.

9) A stationery article substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.