WO2023180179A1

WO2023180179A1 - An antimalodour composition

Info

Publication number: WO2023180179A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/056792
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shanthi APPAVOO; Manu George; Sahiti MATTAPARTHI
Original assignee: Unilever Ip Holdings B.V.; Unilever Global Ip Limited; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2022-03-25
Filing date: 2023-03-16
Publication date: 2023-09-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition that reduces or eliminates malodour particularly, from hard surfaces in homes and other inhabited dwellings especially those in the bathrooms and toilets. It is also effective in reducing malodour from soft surfaces like those on clothes and fabrics or may be used for odour control on topical surfaces of human or animal body. This has been achieved in the present invention by a combination of a specific cationic or anionic surfactant; a specific type of amphoteric surfactant; selected chelating agent and a combination of two types of essential oils (certain substituted phenols and certain unsaturated terpenes)

Description

AN ANTIMALODOUR COMPOSITION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a composition that reduces or eliminates malodour. Particularly, the present invention relates to composition that ensures reduction or elimination of malodour from hard surfaces in homes and other inhabited dwellings especially those in the bathrooms and toilets. It may also be used for malodour reduction from soft inanimate surfaces like those on clothes and fabrics or may be used for odour control on topical surfaces of human or animal body.

Background of the Invention

Eliminating malodour is one of the key aesthetic requirements that humans look for before deciding to live in or use certain dwellings whether it be their homes, offices, restaurants or hotels. Malodour in addition be being generated in bathrooms and toilets may also arise from poorly washed clothes and other fabric and also from human and animal bodies which are unhygienically maintained. There are several approaches to maintaining a pleasant odour in the above places.

One approach is to prevent the formation of the malodour molecules. This approach involves use of anti-microbial actives that kill the odour causing microorganisms or by use of certain actives that inhibit the enzymes which convert certain precursor molecules to malodour molecules. This approach requires the technology to be specific to killing only the desired microorganism or inhibiting only the desired enzymes to the exclusion of others, to get the desired benefit, in order to be wholistic and sustainable.

Another approach is the use of sensory modifiers so that the perception of the malodour molecules are masked or overpowered so that the malodour is not perceived by the nose. This approach involves the popular method of using perfumes which give a pleasant odour and overpower the malodour.

Many patent publications disclose solutions to the problem using the above approaches. W02006088446 (Colgate) discloses use of dishwashing liquid with fragrance to reduce kitchen malodour which is associated with fish, onions, garlic and/or burning oil.

US2006/0189503 (Colgate) discloses a cleaning composition that contains at least two surfactants selected from a cationic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, a linear alkyl benzene sulphonate salt, a sulphated alcoholethoxylate, an amine oxide, and an amphoteric surfactant; and a fragrance compound.

WO2021/180909 (Unilever) discloses an antimicrobial composition comprising: (a) a cationic surfactant, (b) one or more substituted phenols selected from thymol, sec-butylphenol, carvacrol, eugenol, propylphenol and mixtures thereof, (c) one or more aliphatic terpene alcohols selected from menthol, isomenthol, neomenthol, neoisomenthol and mixtures thereof; and (d) one or more unsaturated terpenes selected from limonene, alpha-terpinene, terpinolene, cymene, phellandrene and mixtures thereof; wherein the substituted phenol, the aliphatic terpene alcohol and the unsaturated terpene are present in the ratio 1 :0.5:0.5.

The present inventors used a third approach in tackling the problem of malodour where the ingredients of a composition physically or chemically eliminate the malodour molecules either though chemical counteraction or neutralization so that the malodour is not perceived by the nose. This approach has the advantage that it is a “no-kill” approach which ensures that no microorgansims are killed thereby ensuring no disturbance to the existing microbiome balance. Further, the use of perfumes could be minimized.

The approach used in the present invention required extensive optimization of existing formulation ingredients so that the right ingredients are chosen at the right range of concentration to the exclusion of other ingredients so that the desired antimalodour benefit is achieved. In order to arrive at the present invention, the present inventors had to first identify the key molecules responsible for malodour emanating from the major sources of bad odours like fecal matter, urine, putrefying food and vomit , and study the effect of each conventional ingredient in a cleaning composition e.g. surfactant type and nature, chelating agent, essential oils amongst others and then arrive at the selective combination of these, so as to ensure reduction or elimination of malodour to the desired degree.

As a consequence of this inventive activity, they arrived at a combination of (i) a specific cationic or anionic surfactant (ii) a selected class of amphoteric surfactant (iii) a specific chelating agent and a combination of two types of essential oil ingredients (certain substituted phenols and certain unsaturated terpenes) which together ensure the desired degree of malodour reduction.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide for an antimalodour composition that provides the desired degree of reduction in malodour emanating from toilets and other hard surfaces in homes and other inhabited dwellings. It is another object of the present invention to provide for an antimalodour composition that does not involve killing of micro-organisms.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for an antimalodour composition that delivers the desired reduction in malodour while not requiring the use of perfumes or requires the use of very little perfumes.

Summary of the Invention

The first aspect of the present invention relates to an antimalodour composition comprising

(i) a primary surfactant selected from (a) a cationic surfactant selected from one or both of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and bis (C8-C18) alkyl di methyl quaternary ammonium chloride; or (b) an anionic surfactant selected from one or both of alkyl sulphate surfactant and linear alkyl benzene sulphonate;

(ii) an amphoteric surfactant selected from a C8 - C18 alkyl amine n-oxide;

(iii) a chelating agent selected from one or more of methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA), L- glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid sodium (GLDA), ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), and editronic acid;

(iv) a substituted phenol selected from one or more of thymol, sec-butylphenol, carvacrol, eugenol, and propylphenol; and

(v) an unsaturated terpene selected from one or more of limonene, alpha-terpinene, terpinolene, cymene, and phellandrene.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing malodour from a surface comprising the step of treating the surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims preferably diluted with water in a weight ratio of 1 :1 to 1 :200.

Detailed Description of the Invention

For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of” or "composed of". Thus, the term "comprising" is meant not to be limiting to any subsequently stated elements, but rather to optionally also encompass nonspecified elements of major or minor functional importance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Unless specified otherwise, numerical ranges expressed in the format "x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”.

The composition of the invention comprises a primary surfactant which is a specific cationic or anionic surfactant as described below. When the primary surfactant is a cationic surfactant, it is chosen from one or both of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and bis (C8-C18) alkyl di methyl quaternary ammonium chloride. Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) is also known as benzalkonium chloride (BKC).

ADBAC has the structure as give below:

Where R1 has a carbon chain length from C8 to C24.

ADBAC is commercially available as BARQUAT® MB-50, BARQUAT® MX-50, BARQUAT® OJ- 50, HYAMINE® 3500, BTC® 50, BTC® 50E, BTC® 65, BTC® 776, BTC® 824, BTC® 835; each 50% active; and the same is available as BARQUAT® MB-80, BARQUAT® MX-80, HYAMINE® 3500- 80, BTC® 8248, BTC® 8358; each 80% active.

In the bis (C8-C18) alkyl di methyl quaternary ammonium chloride class, the preferred compound is didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC). In a preferred aspect of the invention, the cationic surfactant is preferably BKC.

DDAC has the structure as given below:

DDAC is commercially available as BARDAC™ 2250 R and BTC® 1010, both 50% active; and BARDAC™ 2280 R and BTC® 1010-80, both 80% active.

Quaternary ammonium compounds are available singly, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary ammonium compounds under trademarks BARDAC™, BARQUAT® and HYAMINE® (all by Lonza); and BTC® (by Stepan).

When the primary surfactant is a cationic surfactant, the composition may be formulated as a general purpose or toilet cleaning composition or as a fabric conditioning composition. When the primary surfactant is an anionic surfactant, the composition may be formulated as a laundry detergent cleaning composition, a composition for washing dishes or a composition for personal cleansing.

When the primary surfactant is an anionic surfactant, it is chosen from one or both of alkyl sulphate surfactant and linear alkyl benzene sulphonate. The alkyl sulphate surfactant when included in the composition of the invention, it preferably has 10 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably C10 to C12 carbon atoms. The surfactant has a counterion which is an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), or triethanolamine (TEA). Preferably it is sodium or potassium, most preferably it is sodium. The most preferred surfactant of this class for inclusion in the composition of the invention is sodium lauryl sulphate. The primary surfactant, when anionic, could alternately be linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS). The chemical structure of LAS is

The primary surfactant when cationic is preferably included in 0.01 to 5%, preferably 0.01 to 2.0%, most preferably 0.01 to 1 .0% by weight of the composition. The primary surfactant when anionic is preferably included in 0.01 to 5.0%, preferably 0.01 to 2.0%, most preferably 0.01 to 1 .0% by weight of the composition.

The composition as per the invention comprises an amphoteric surfactant selected from one or more of a C8 - C18 alkyl amine n-oxide (which is broadly referred to an amine oxide). The preferred amine oxide is one or both of lauramine oxide or lauryl/myristyl amido propyl amine oxide. The more preferred amine oxide is lauramine oxide. Lauramine oxide has the structure as given below:

Preferably, the composition preferably comprises 0.01 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.01 to 1 .0 wt%, of the amphoteric surfactant.

The composition of the invention comprises a chelating agent selected from one or more of methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA), L-glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid sodium (GLDA), ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and editronic acid. The preferred chelating agent is one or both of MGDA and GLDA; most preferably it is MGDA. The composition preferably comprises 0.01 to 2.5%, more preferably 0.01 to 1.0%, most preferably 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of the composition.

The composition comprises a substituted phenol selected from one or more of thymol, secbutylphenol, carvacrol, eugenol, and propylphenol. The substituted phenol is preferably one or both of thymol and eugenol; most preferably it is thymol. The amount of the substituted phenol is preferably in the range of 0.001 to 0.5%, more preferably 0.001 to 0.3 %, most preferably 0.001 to 0.1 % by weight of the composition.

The structural isomer of thymol (carvacrol) may also preferably be used.

The composition of the present invention also comprises one or more unsaturated terpenes selected from limonene, alpha-terpinene, terpinolene, cymene, and phellandrene. Within the meaning of the present application “unsaturated terpene” preferably means that the terpene contains unsaturated (carbon-carbon) bonds and does not contain a hydroxy group.

The preferred unsaturated terpene for inclusion in the composition of the invention is one or both of limonene and terpinolene. The unsaturated terpene is included in 0.001 to 0.5%, more preferably 0.001 to 0.30%, most preferably 0.001 to 0.1%, by weight of the composition. Most preferably, the unsaturated terpene is limonene. The structure of a limonene is given below:

The composition preferably additionally comprises an aliphatic terpene alcohols selected from one or more of menthol, isomenthol, neomenthol, and neoisomenthol. Within the meaning of the present application “aliphatic terpene” preferably means that the terpene does not contain unsaturated (carbon-carbon) bonds. The terpene alcohol may be the (+) or (-) stereoisomers, for example (+)-menthol, (+)-isomenthol, (+)-neomenthol, (+)-neoisomenthol, (-)-menthol, (-)- isomenthol, (-)-neomenthol, (-)-neoisomenthol. Preferably, the composition comprises 0.001 to 0.5% terpene alcohol by weight of the composition. The most preferred aliphatic terpene alcohol for inclusion in the composition of the invention is menthol. The structure of menthol is given below:

The pH of the composition is preferably in the range of 7.0 to 11 .0.

When the primary surfactant is a cationic surfactant, the composition of the invention may be formulated as a (i) a General purpose or toilet cleaner (ii) as a Fabric conditioning composition or (iii) as a Dishwash composition. These compositions are described in detail below.

General purpose or toilet cleaners

The composition of the invention may be formulated as a general purpose cleaner which is usually used to clean floors (in which case it may be known as a floor cleaner) or used to clean toilets (in which case it may be known as a toilet cleaner). It may also be used to clean other hard surfaces like furniture, table tops, kitchen platforms and other surfaces in homes, offices, restaurants and other public places.

The composition of the invention delivered as general purpose cleaner may further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically these can be included for the purpose of stabilising the compositions. Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.

Preferably the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from 7 to about 20, more preferably from 10 to 18, e.g. 12 to 16. Genapol™ C200 (Clariant) based on coco chain and 20 EG groups is an example of a suitable nonionic surfactant. If present, the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount from 0.05 to 20%, more preferably 0.1 to 15 % based on the total weight of the composition.

General purpose cleaners and toilet cleaners may be diluted before use. When diluted, they may be diluted with water in a weight ratio in the range of 1 :1 to 1 :1000, preferably 1 :1 to 1 :200, most preferably 1 :10 to 1 :200. The general purpose or toilet cleaners are usually delivered in liquid, gel, foam or cream format.

Fabric conditioning composition

The composition of the invention may also be delivered to provide the benefits of the invention to clothes or fabric that are laundered. It is preferably delivered through a fabric conditioning composition which additionally comprises 1 to 50% of a fabric softening active.

The fabric conditioner composition is also referred to as a fabric softener. Examples of suitable fabric softening actives include: quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latexes and mixtures thereof. The fabric softening active is preferably selected from a quaternary ammonium compound, or silicone polymer and mixtures thereof, more preferably a quaternary ammonium compound.

Fabric conditioning compositions for use in accordance with the invention may be dilute or concentrated. Dilute products typically contain up to about 6 wt.% of the composition softening compounds, generally about 1 to 5 wt.%, whereas concentrated products may contain up to about 50 wt. % of the composition softening compounds, preferably from about 5 to about 50 wt.%, more preferably from 6 to 25 wt.%. Overall, the products of the invention may contain from 1 to 50 wt. %, preferably from 2 to 25 wt. % of the composition softening compounds, more preferably 2 to 20 wt. % of softening compounds.

The preferred quaternary ammonium fabric softening compounds for use in compositions of the present invention are so called "ester quats". Particularly preferred materials are the ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds comprising a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-ester linked components.

The composition of the invention delivered as fabric conditioning composition may further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically these can be included for the purpose of stabilising the compositions. Suitable nonionic surfactants are those described above as suitable for use in general purpose or toilet cleaning compositions. If present, the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10 wt.%, more preferably 0.1 to 5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition. Thus, the fabric conditioning composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt% of a non-ionic surfactant preferably an fatty alcohol ethoxylate. The fabric conditioner composition is preferably in an aqueous form. The compositions preferably comprise from 75 to 95 wt.% water.

The fabric conditioning composition may be used to treat fabrics either in a hand washing or a machine washing process. Preferably the fabric conditioner is used in the rinse stage of the washing process.

Preferably the clothes are treated with a 10 to 100 ml dose of fabric conditioner for a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes. More preferably, 10 to 80 ml for a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes.

Dishwash compositions

The composition of the invention may be useful for upkeep of kitchen items e.g. utensils and dishes which may be cleaned using a liquid dishwash composition. The composition is also useful for cleaning and disinfecting filters in dishwashing machines. The various ingredients other than the essential ingredients claimed in the present invention which may be included are anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, and hydrotropes. Additionally, other ingredients like amphoteric surfactants and organic acids, may be included. Preferably, liquid dishwash composition further comprises water in an amount ranging from 5 to 99 wt%, more preferably from 15 to 80 wt%, further more preferably from 30 to 65 wt%, by weight of the composition. Optionally, liquid dishwash composition further comprises an enzyme with or without a suitable enzyme stabilizer. The liquid dishwash composition may further comprise one or more polymers which may be included in 0.001 to 10 wt%, more preferably from 0.1 to 6 wt%, still further more preferably from 1 to 3 wt%.

Preferably, the composition may be used as is, i.e. neat, or it may be diluted before use. The extent of dilution is generally dependent on market choice. In some markets a more concentrated product is desired while in others a more dilute product is preferred. When the composition is a liquid dishwash compositions it is typically diluted with water in a weight ratio in the range of 1 :1 to 1 :10. The liquid dishwash composition may optionally comprise ingredients, such as fragrance, colorant, foam boosting agents, and odor absorbing materials.

When the composition of the invention comprises an anionic surfactant as the primary surfactant, the composition may be formulated as a (i) Laundry detergent composition or (ii) for personal care applications. Details of formulating laundry detergent compositions are given below.

Laundry detergent composition

The composition may be delivered as a laundry detergent composition. It may be delivered in the form of a solid or as a liquid of which the liquid form is more preferred.

Liquid laundry detergent compositions generally comprise at least 50% wt. water and more preferably at least 70% wt. water. Water is generally present in an amount of 20% to 99.9% preferably from 40% to 80% by weight of the composition. Liquid laundry detergent compositions generally comprise 5 to 60% and preferably from 10 to 40% by weight of one or more surfactants. The surfactant is generally anionic in nature. Preferred anionic surfactants other than the primary surfactant included in the composition of the invention may be one or more of alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, and alpha-olefin sulfonates. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulfates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain one to three ethylene oxide units per molecule. The counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium which are preferred; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). Preferably, laundry detergent composition comprises from 5 to 20 wt% non-ionic surfactant based on the total weight of composition. A preferred class of nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to Cis, more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. A preferred nonionic surfactant are the C16/18 alcohol ethoxylates.

Liquid laundry detergent compositions also generally comprise agents like soil release polymers, hydroptropes, co-surfactants, builders, polymeric thickeners, and shading dyes in addition to the above described ingredients. Soil release polymers (SRP) help to improve the detachment of soils from fabric by modifying the fabric surface during washing. Preferred SRPs for use in the invention include copolyesters formed by condensation of terephthalic acid ester and diol, preferably 1 ,2 propanediol, and further comprising an end cap formed from repeat units of alkylene oxide capped with an alkyl group. The SRP, when included, may range from 0.1 to 10%, desirably from 0.3 to 7%, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.

A composition of the invention may incorporate non-aqueous carriers such as hydrotropes, cosolvents and phase stabilizers. Such materials are typically low molecular weight, water-soluble or water-miscible organic liquids such as C1 to C5 monohydric alcohols; polyhydric alcohols; or alkyl aryl sulfonates having up to 3 carbon atoms in the lower alkyl group (such as the sodium and potassium xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene and isopropyl benzene (cumene) sulfonates). Nonaqueous carriers, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 3%, preferably from 0.5 to 1 % by weight of the composition. The preferred hydrotropes polyhydric alochols like monopropylene glycol and glycerol.

The liquid laundry detergent composition of the invention may contain one or more cosurfactants (such as amphoteric (zwitterionic) and/or cationic surfactants) in addition to the non-soap anionic and/or nonionic detersive surfactants described above. Such cosurfactant, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing malodour from a surface comprising the step of treating the surface with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water. The dilution is preferably done with water in a weight ratio of 1 :1 to 1 :200. The method is preferably used for reducing malodour on a surface which is an inanimate hard or soft surface or an animate surface like skin or hair; preferably an inanimate hard surface.

The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples.

Examples

Examples A-G, 1 : Generation of key malodour molecules from compositions outside the invention as compared to one within the invention

The following compositions as shown in Table -1 below were prepared. The compositions were used in an assay to determine the extent of suppression of certain key malodour molecules. The assay used is given below.

Solutions of the composition shown in Table 1 are prepared in water (DI/HW based on the dilution scenario of various formulation), and 1.9 ml of the prepared solution is added to a GO vial (of 20 ml volume) along with 100 pl of Toilet Malodour Mix. Composition of the Toilet Malodour Mix, in DI water, is provided below.

Using the GCMS method, the headspace inside the closed GC vial is analysed for the quantification of the concentration of toilet malodour molecules.

The relative concentration of the key molecules (as a ratio) with respect to a control composition (Example A containing only water) is shown in Table -2. Table -1

In the table above:

BKC is benzalkonium chloride, a cationic surfactant Empigen Bac 50 procured from Innospec

EO7 is a non-ionic surfactant Neodal 25-7 procured from Shell Global LAO is lauramine oxide, the amphoteric surfactant, EMPIGEN® OB procured from Innospec

TL refers to a mixture of Thymol (50%) and Limonene (50%)

Table - 2

| Skatole | 1.00 |

1.20 |

0.62 | 1.22 | 0.87 |

0.86 |

0.99 | 0.51 |

The data in the table -2 above indicates that the total amount of malodour and the amount of each key type of malodour is dramatically reduced in the case of Example 1 (a composition within the invention) as compared to examples outside the invention (Examples A to G).

Examples H, I: Effect of use of other surfactants

Compositions as shown in Table -3 were prepared using surfactants outside the invention and its effect on one of the key malodour molecule which was found to be difficult to supress viz. skatole was measured. The data is summarized in table -4.

Table -3

In the table above:

APG is alkyl polyglucoside, a non-ionic surfactant Glucopon 215 procured from BASF

CAPB is coco amido propyl betaine, an amphoteric surfactant EMPIGEN® BS/FA procured from Innospec

Table-4

The data in the table -4 above indicates that using surfactants outside the invention, Example H where APG (a non-ionic surfactant was used) or Example I where CAPB (an amphoteric surfactant outside the invention was used) led to unacceptable levels of skatole generation. Examples 2-4: Compositions as per the invention

Compositions as per the invention using combinations of various actives (different amphoteric surfactant and different chelating agents) claimed were prepared as shown in table -5 and the concentration of the key malodour molecules generated is summarised in table -6.

Table - 5

In the table above: LMDO A MM ONYX® LMDO is lauryl/myristyl amido amine oxide procured from Stepan GLDA is Dissolvine® GL-47-S procured from Akzonobel

EDTA is Trilon B liquid procured from BASF

Table -6

The data in the table - 6 above indicates that the compositions as per the invention (Examples 2 to 4) ensure that each type of malodour and the total malodour generated are reduced or eliminated to a large extent. Examples 5-7: Other compositions as per the invention

Compositions as per the invention using combinations of various actives (different primary surfactant) claimed were prepared as shown in table -7 and the concentration of the key malodour molecules generated is summarised in table -8.

Table - 7

In the table above: DDAC is Bardac 2250 procured from Lonza

SLS is sodium lauryl sulphate llfarol TCL 92 procured from Unger

LAS refers to linear alkyl benzene sulphonate procured from New India Detergents Ltd.

Table -8

The data in the table - 8 above indicates that the compositions as per the invention (Examples 5 to 7) ensure that each type of malodour and the total malodour generated are reduced or eliminated to a large extent.

Claims

1. An antimalodour composition comprising

(ii) an amphoteric surfactant selected from a C8 - C18 alkyl amine n-oxide;

(iii) a chelating agent selected from one or more of methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA), L- glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid sodium (GLDA), ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and editronic acid;

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary surfactant is a cationic surfactant.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 2 comprising 0.01 to 5 wt% cationic surfactant.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bis (C8-C18) alkyl di methyl quaternary ammonium chloride is didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC).

5. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the amphoteric surfactant is lauramine oxide or lauryl/myristyl amido propyl amine oxide.

6. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 0.05 to 5 wt% of the amphoteric surfactant.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 0.01 to 2.5 wt% of the chelating agent. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the substituted phenol is selected from one or both of thymol and eugenol preferably thymol. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 0.001 to 0.5 wt% substituted phenol. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the unsaturated terpene is selected from one or both of limonene and terpinolene, preferably limonene. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 0.001 to 0.5 wt% unsaturated terpene. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claim wherein the pH of the composition is in the range of 7.0 to 11.0. A method of reducing malodour from a surface comprising the step of treating the surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims preferably diluted with water in a weight ratio of 1 :1 to 1 :200. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the surface is an inanimate hard or soft surface or an animate surface like skin or hair; preferably an inanimate hard surface.