WO2009150403A2

WO2009150403A2 - Fragrance emanator composition

Info

Publication number: WO2009150403A2
Application number: PCT/GB2009/001408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Fulop; Kristian Hall; Louise Southern
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2008-06-12
Filing date: 2009-06-04
Publication date: 2009-12-17
Also published as: GB0810796D0; WO2009150403A3

Abstract

A reed emanator composition is described, the composition comprises a fragranced liquid and a plurality of resin beads, wherein the fragranced liquid comprises at least one perfume oil and at least one organic solvent, and wherein the resin beads comprise a water-swelled acrylate resin. Methods of manufacture of the composition and the water-swelled beads are also described as well as a reed emanator containing such a composition.

Description

Fragrance Emanator Composition

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reed emanator composition and specifically, but not exclusively, a reed emanator composition for use with a passive reed emanator to emanate fragrance or the like with improved safety functionality. The present invention further relates to a reed emanator containing such a composition and a method of manufacture.

Background

Fragrance emanators are well known and are provided in numerous different forms. The present invention is generally concerned with passive liquid emanators. Passive liquid emanators are typically characterised by a container that retains a quantity of fragranced liquid together with an emanation means to allow the fragranced liquid to emanate into the surrounding environment. The emanation means may be as simple as the emanator being provided with an opening to allow the liquid to emanate into the surrounding environment. Alternatively, the emanation means may be a passive transport system, such as a wick or the like, to transport the liquid by capillary action or the like away from a main body of liquid and toward the surrounding environment for improved emanation.

In passive liquid emanators the quantity of fragranced liquid is generally on view to the user. Typically fragranced liquids are commercially available as oils which tend to be immiscible with water or water soluble fragrances. The particular fragrance system (oil/water) used is dependent on the type of emanator used and the rate of emanation required as well as the desired aesthetic properties necessary to make the emanator consumer acceptable.

When the quantity of fragranced liquid is viewable it is desirable from a consumer acceptability perspective for the emanator to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, particular suitable in this regard is a reed emanator. A reed emanator typically comprises a translucent bottle containing the fragranced liquid and a plurality of elongate reeds passing through an opening into the interior of the bottle and the quantity of liquid. The reeds, commonly rattan sticks, act as a series of wicks to passively permit the transport the fragranced liquid up the reeds, through the opening in the bottle and toward the end of the reeds remote from the ends of the reeds immersed in the liquid.

Since reed emanators may be used with oils and organic solvents and are commonly provided in a bottle with a somewhat open configuration, users are typically provided with suitable safety information and general precautions for use thereof, such information being the result of extensive safety testing and quality control mechanisms. A further consequence of this open configuration is that reed emanators are left susceptible to being refilled with other material after all of the fragranced liquid has been emanated which can potentially be hazardous as the safety information and precaution for use information may no longer be relevant.

In light of the foregoing it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reed emanator fragrance composition that is aesthetically acceptable from a consumer perspective and also encourages users not to refill the emanator with other compositions.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a reed emanator composition comprising a fragranced liquid and a plurality of resin beads, wherein the fragranced liquid comprises at least one perfume oil and at least one organic solvent, and wherein the resin beads comprise a water-swelled acrylate resin.

The composition of the present invention is preferably colourless and the inclusion of resin beads may provide one or more advantages to the fragranced liquid of the present invention over known fragranced liquids. For instance, the composition of the present invention may provide a significantly improved aesthetic from a consumer perspective. Furthermore, the beads may be swelled sufficiently such that they are more dense than the fragranced liquid, thus when the composition is contained with a reed emanator device the fragranced liquid will be located higher in the device and thus improving the rate of emanation. Additionally the beads of the present invention are easier, less expensive and more environmentally viable to transport in their non- swelled form relative to pre-fomned beads made of other materials such as glass of plastic.

The resin beads are preferably formed from an acrylate resin copolymer which have been swelled in water, preferably deionised water, before being added to the fragranced liquid. Preferably the resin beads are coloured, and even more preferably the beads have a colour that corresponds to a colour typically associated with the fragrance to be emanated from the fragrance emanator. It may be advantageous for the resin beads to be coloured to correspond with a colour typically associated with the fragrance to be emanated as the beads then may be capable of acting as a fragrance label, thus permitting the fragrance emanator to be free of any labeling or the like on the exterior thereof, or at least substantially of any such labeling.

The resin beads may be capable of being swelled up to substantially 100 times their original size, and preferably up to 50 times their original size, and most preferably up to 10 times their original size, and ideally to at least 4 times their original size. The water-swelled beads may comprise 0.5-20 %weight of resin and 80-99.5 %weight of water; and preferably comprises 1-10 %weight of resin and 90-99 %weight of water; and even more preferably comprises.1-5 %weight of resin and 95-99 %weight of water; and most preferably comprises 1-2 %weight of resin and 98-99 %weight of water; and ideally comprises substantially 1.5 %weight of resin and substantially 98.5 %weight of water.

The at least one perfume oil is preferably selected from: a natural perfume oil, a synthetic perfume oil; an essential oil; or combinations thereof.

If there is more than one solvent to produce a solvent system, preferably said solvent system is substantially completely comprised of organic solvents, and even more preferably comprises only organic solvents. This is advantageous as organic solvent drives a high rate of emanation required for use within a reed emanator, whereas water-based solvents only very slowly emanate from the reeds of a reed emanator thus rendering them unsuitable for reed emanators.

The organic solvent(s) suitable for the at least one solvent of the present invention may comprise one or more of: propylene glycol ethers, including mono, di- and tri- propylene glycol ethers; siloxanes; paraffinic hydrocarbons; terpinyl acetates; and alcohols. Preferably the organic solvent comprises at least one of: mono/di/tri propylene glycol ethers. Most preferably the organic solvent comprises at least a mono propylene glycol ether, and ideally comprises propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether.

The at least one solvent of the present invention may be particularly advantageous as they are capable of retaining their aesthetic qualities when coming into contact with water. Over a period of time it is possible that a small quantity of the water contained in the water-swelled beads may leach out of the beads into the fragranced liquid. In most organic solvent systems the water leached into the fragranced liquid would cause the solvent(s) to loose its transparency and/or colourless quality by taking on a cloudy or milky appearance, thus destroying the aesthetic qualities from a consumer perspective. Surprisingly however, the at least one solvent of the present invention does not suffer this unsatisfactory phenomena and remains colourless or substantially colourless and transparent despite if water does leach out of the beads during the life of the composition.

Furthermore, it is thought that the at least one solvent of the present invention tends to resist the tendency of the water in the water-swelled beads from leaching out into the solvent(s), thus advantageously resisting a possible reduction in the size of the beads. Preferably the at least one solvent is free or substantially free from water. It is to be understood in the context of the present invention that the term "substantially free of water" is intended to cover the situation where water leaches out of the water-swelled beads rather than direct addition of water to the at least one solvent.

A particular advantage of the present invention over known reed emanator compositions however is that the water-swelled beads are capable of cooperating with the fragranced liquid to improve the safe usage of a reed emanator containing the composition and also dissuade a user from refilling the reed emanator with another material which may not be in accordance with the safety information provided with the reed emanator. In addition to the aforementioned advantages, toward the end of life of the reed emanator containing the composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, the water-swelled beads offer at least three distinct advantages.

Firstly, the composition provides and improved end of life mechanism. Once all of the fragranced liquid has been emanated or taken up by the reeds, water will begin to leach out of the beads thus causing the beads to reduce in size. This provides a user with a useful end of life indicator. Since the composition of the present invention is preferably transparent and colourless it can be difficult for a user to visually determine when the reed emanator requires replacement, the size reduction of the beads may assist significantly in this regard.

Secondly, the composition resists the emanation of a subsequently introduced liquid, at least for a period of time. Once all of the fragranced liquid has taken up by the reeds, water will begin to leach out of the beads as discussed above, as the organic fragranced liquid in the reeds is emanated therefrom the reeds have capacity to take up the water leached from the beads. Should a user mistakenly or intentionally add a liquid into the reed emanator for emanation, the presence of the water in the reeds will block the reeds from taking up any of the new liquid for a period of time, this may provide a user with an opportunity to safely remove and/or disposed of the new liquid for which the safety of use thereof is not necessarily known.

Thirdly, the composition provides a visual indication to a user that any subsequently introduced liquid is not intended to be used within the reed emanator. Only a narrow range of organic solvents are compatible with the beads used in the composition of the present invention. Should a new liquid be introduced into the reed emanator and said new liquid includes organic solvents not in said narrow range, the beads are likely to be corrupted in one way or another thus providing a user with a visual indication that the new liquid is not necessarily intended for use with the reed emanator to permit the user an opportunity to safely remove and/or disposed of the new liquid for which the safety of use thereof is not necessarily known. Corrupted beads can take on many forms, the commonality therebetween being that the beads do not retain the appearance they had when the user first saw the composition according to the present invention. For instance, some forms of corruption include but are not limited to: the beads may dissolve into the liquid; may coagulate into a single bead; may loose density and float throughout the liquid; may take up the new liquid and leach out the water to result in a two-phase liquid; and/or variations thereof.

The composition may comprise the components in the following amounts: 10-99 %weight fragranced liquid and 1-90 %weight resin beads; and preferably comprises 30-90 %weight fragranced liquid and 10-70 %weight resin beads; and most preferably comprises 40-80 %weight fragranced liquid and 20-60 %weight resin beads; and ideally comprises 55-65 %weight fragranced liquid and 35-45 %weight resin beads.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a method of manufacture of a reed emantor composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising the steps of: preparing a fragranced liquid comprising the mixing of at least one perfume oil with at least one organic solvent; preparing a plurality of water-swelled resin beads; subsequently combining the mixture of perfume(s) and solvent(s) with the resin beads.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a method of manufacture of a plurality of resin beads for inclusion in a reed emanator composition according to either of the first or second aspects of the present invention comprising the steps of: immersing a plurality of resin beads into a reservoir of water for at least 60 minutes; substantially continuously agitating the water and resin beads for said at least 60 minutes; removing the water-swelled resin beads from the water.

Preferably the resin beads are immersed for 120 minutes +/- 10 minutes.

Although the water and resin beads may be substantially continuously agitated by any suitable means such as stirring or the like, it is particularly preferred to agitate the water and bead combination by passing compressed air through the reservoir. The passing of compressed air through the reservoir is advantageous when compared to other methods of agitating the water and bead combination as the beads are less likely to be sheared or torn such as when a stirring mechanism is used. Additionally, the compressed air tends to move all of the beads uniformly thus resulting in a substantially consistent resultant water-swelled bead size and shape.

The water-swelled resin beads are preferably kept moist until they are to be included in a fragrance composition to guard against any water loss, or substantial water loss.

Although the beads may be of any suitable shape, within the context of the present invention the beads are preferably substantially spherical. A substantially spherical shape may be useful as it may conveniently permit a plurality of the beads to be stored in a fragrance composition and/or a fragrance emanator.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a reed emanator comprising: a plurality plurality of elongate wicks, a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the plurality of resin beads are made according to the third aspect of the present invention, and wherein the fragrance composition is made according to the second aspect of the present invention, and wherein the emanator comprises a container having at least one opening to the surrounding environment.

The wick(s) may be dimensioned to be greater than the container height, and preferably at least double the container height. The at least one elongate wick is preferably made of a naturally occurring material, rattan and or bamboo is particularly preferred.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore an end of life indicator for a reed emanator comprising a container having at least one opening to the surrounding environment and a plurality of elongate wicks for insertion in to the opening and the interior of the container, the reed emanator further comprising a composition consisting of a fragranced liquid of at least one perfume oil and at least one solvent and a plurality of water- swelled Acrylate resin beads, characterised in that the water-swelled resin beads are provided in the fragranced liquid whereby said beads are configured, in use, to decrease in size toward the end of life of the reed emanator.

The resin beads of the reed emanator of the fifth aspect are configured to decrease in size toward the end of life of the reed emanator in response to the fragranced liquid evaporating out of the container. This form of indicator may be advantageous as commonly fragranced liquids are colourless and if can be difficult for a user to determine whether some or all of the liquid has evaporated from the container necessitating a replacement of the emanator or a refilling of fragranced liquid. In the present invention, when the level of the fragranced liquid has dipped below the level of at least some of the beads, thus exposing said beads to the air within the container, said beads may begin to loose water and/or fragranced liquid contained therein by evaporation, thus reducing in size. As the level of the fragranced liquid reduces further, more beads will be exposed to the air and also may loose their liquid content, thus also being reduced in size.

Therefore, even if the user of the reed emanator fails to note that the level of fragranced liquid has diminished or completely evaporated, the user will easily note the end of life of the emanator when the resin beads have reduced in size to less than their swelled size, and preferably to less than half their swelled size, and most preferably to substantially the same size as their pre- swelled size.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fragrance emanator in use; and

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a sealed fragrance emanator.

Description of an Embodiment

The following description and examples are intended merely to illustrate the invention and are not intended to be limiting.

The fragrance emanator composition(s) of the present invention comprise a perfume and solvent system combined together with a plurality of resin beads. The method of manufacture of the water-swelled beads is discussed below.

A quantity of beads, preferably formed from an acrylate resin copolymer, which have been suitably coloured to correspond with a colour normally associated with the particular fragrance, for instance the colour green for a green apple perfumed fragrance, are immersed in a reservoir of deionised water. The reservoir of water is provided with a compressed air agitation system wherein a compressed air line having a series of apertures therein is located near or at the bottom of the reservoir. Once compressed air is passed through the line, bubbles of air pass through the apertures into the reservoir and on toward the upper surface of the reservoir, thus agitating the beads. This agitation acts to prevent the beads from agglomerating, and also tends to cause the beads to swell to a substantially uniform size. Equally importantly, by not using a mechanized agitation mechanism, such as a bladed stirrer, there is less likelihood that the beads will be sheared or torn. The beads are substantially continuously agitated for at least 60 minutes; and preferably for 120 minutes +/- 10 minutes. After this immersion and agitation, the beads may have swelled up to over 5 times their original size. Thereafter, the beads are removed from the water reservoir and kept moist to guard against water loss until they are required to be combined with the perfume and solvent system.

The method of manufacture of the perfume and solvent system will now be discussed below.

Firstly the perfume oil is selected from: a natural perfume oil, a synthetic perfume oil; an essential oil; or combinations thereof, although a natural perfume oil(s) is preferred. Secondly the solvent system is prepared using at least one solvent selected from the list of: propylene glycol ethers, including mono, di- and tri- propylene glycol ethers; siloxanes; paraffinic hydrocarbons; terpinyl acetates; and alcohols. Ideally however, the principal solvent present in the solvent system is propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether.

The solvent system and the perfume oil(s) are mixed together and, preferably, stirred to ensure a uniform dispersal of the perfume throughout the solvent system . Thereafter, the resultant perfume and solvent system is added to a suitable container, such as a container of a fragrance emanator and a quantity of the moist beads is added thereto. The container is then provided with a closure means such as a screw cap or the like to seal the aperture(s) in the container to prevent any of the fragrance composition of the present invention from leaking therefrom or prematurely evaporating therefrom.

The following illustrates examples of the fragrance emanator compositions made in accordance with the method of the second aspect of the present invention.

Example 1 :

Description % wt of total composition

Fragrance & solvent system 60

Water 39.412

Acrylate resin copolymer beads 0.588

Fragrance & Solvent system:

Description % wt of fragrance solvent system

2-Propanol, 1-butoxy- 40.00

Cyclohexanol, 4-(1 ,1-dimethylethyl)-, acetate 7.5 Benzeneethanol 5.00

2,6 Octadien-1-o1 , 3,7-dimenthyl-,(Z)- 3.46 3-Buten-2-one, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-1cyclohexen-1 -yl)- 3.46

Benzenepropanal,.alpha.-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)- 1.91

Citronellol 1.59

Butylphenyl Methylpropional 1.50

Geraniol 1.41

Citral 1.0

2,4-dimethyl-3-cylcohexene carbaldehyde 0.9

3-(4-tert-butylphenyl) propionaldehyde 0.8

(Z)-3-hexenyl salicylate 0.7 σ-methyl-1 ,3-benzodiozole-5-propionaldehyde 0.6

3-methyl-5-phenylpentanol 0.4

Limonene 0.35

Hydrogenated Methyl Rosinate 0.32

1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one 0.30

Phenylacetaldehyde 0.21

Eugenol 0.2 Miscellaneous components to 100%

Example 2:

Description % w

Fragrance & solvent system 60

Water 39.412

Acrylate resin copolymer beads 0.588

Fragrance & Solvent system:

Description % wt of fragrance solvent system

1 -Butoxypropan-2ol 40.00

Diethyl Malonate 7

Distillates, petroleum, Hydrotreatedjight alkanes

C11-15-ISO) 9.00

2-Tert-Butylcycloh exyl acetate 4.00

3A,4,5,6,7,7A-Hexahydro-4,7-Methano-1-lnden-5(6)

-YL Acetate 3.11

Alpha & Beta & Gamma & Delta Terpinelo 3.10

Linalool 1.74 Trans-4-tert — butyl cyclohexyl acetate (main isomer) 1.33

2-Propenyl Hexanoate 1.33

2-Methyl-3-(4-lsopro Pylphenyl) Propanal 0.70

Limonene 0.66

Butylphenyl Methypropional 0.44

4-Undecanolide 0.26

3-(3-lsopropylphenyl) Butanal 0.22

2,4-dimenthyl-3-cyclohexane carbaldehyde 0.22 Miscellaneous components to 100%

ExamDle 3:

Description % w/w

Fragrance & solvent system 60

Water 39.412

Acrylate resin copolymer beads 0.588

Fragrance & Solvent system:

Description % wt of fragrance solvent system

2-Propanol, 1 -butoxy- 30.01

Cyclohexanol, 4-(1 ,1-dimethylethyl)-, acetate 10.52

Linalool 12.56

Cyclohexanol, 2-(1 ,1-dimethylethyl)-,acetate 5.39

Terpineol 3.01

Lonone,methyl- 2.97

Alpha-lsomethyl lonone 2.74

3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionaldehyde 2.22

Benzeneethanol 1.90

3-Buten-2-one,4- (2,6,6-trimethyl-1 -cyclohexen-1 -yl)- 1.51

Cyclohexanepropanol, . alpha...alpha. -dimethyl- 1.11

4,7-Methano-1Hinden-5-ol, 3a, 4,5,6,7, 7ahexahydro-, acetate 0.95

Geraniol 0.88

2(3H)-Furanone,5-heptyldihydro- 0.41

2,4-dimethyl-3-cylcohexane carbaldehyde 0.35

(2,5-Dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)methanol 0.16

2-Buten-1-ol,2-ethyl-4-(2,2v3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-

1-yl)- 0.16 Miscellaneous components to 100%

The miscellaneous components used to make the fragrance and solvent systems up to 100% may comprise one or more: additional organic solvents; perfume oils; UV stabilizers; pH stabilizers; preservatives or other suitable ingredients.

All of the foregoing examples were added to a bottle and resulted in a composition wherein the substantially uniformly spherical water-swelled beads were of a greater density and resided at the bottom of the bottle with the fragranced liquid interspersed in the gaps between said beads and in the volume of the bottle above said beads.

It should be noted that only a narrow range of organic solvents are compatible with the composition of the present invention, in particular the following organic solvents were found to be incompatible: Dipropylene glycol (beads swelled and became suspended in clear solution); Propylene glycol (beads swelled and became suspended in clear solution); Methoxymethylbutanol (beads lost all-water and gave a clear solution); Dipropylene glycol mono methyl ether (beads lost all water and gave a clear solution); Benzyl Acetate (beads began to float before dissolving).

Turning to Figs. 1 &2, an example of a fragrance emanator 1 suitable for emanating a fragrance emanator composition is illustrated. The emanator 1 comprises a container 2 which of a generally elongate frusto-conical shape made from a transparent and colourless material such as glass or plastic. The shape of the container 2 may be considered as advantageous as the wide base thereof will provide increased stability of the emanator in use. The container 2 is hollow and suitable to hold a quantity of liquid therein.

Fig. 2 illustrates the fragrance emanator 1 is a sealed arrangement. The sealed arrangement is arrived at by the container 2 being filled with the composition of the present invention comprising a plurality of the water-swelled beads 3 and the mixed solvent and perfume system 4. When filled the container is sealed with cap 5 which has a screw thread to engage with a corresponding screw thread on the container 2. Cap 5 may be made of any suitable material but is, preferably, made from a plastics material, ideally a transparent and colourless plastics material. The cap 5 is provided with a removable interior disc 6.

To initiate the emanation of fragrance from the emanator 1 , the cap 5 is unscrewed from the container 2 and the interior disc 6 is removed therefrom to leave a generally circular aperture 7. The cap 5 is then screwed back on to the container and a plurality of rattan sticks 8 are inserted through the aperture 7 and into the interior of the container 2 toward the base thereof. The rattan sticks 8 are inherently porous and therefore are suitable for transporting the mixed solvent and perfume system by capillary action from the interior of the container, through the aperture 7 and toward the distal end of said sticks.

The cap 5 has a radially extending lip protruding from an upper aspect thereof which, should any of the solvent and perfume system drip from the rattan sticks 8 after being transported through the aperture 7, be capable of collecting any dripped liquid in the trough defined between the lip and an inner wall of the cap. This may be advantageous as any liquid dripping from the sticks will be caught in the tough for subsequent evaporation therefrom rather than falling on the surface on which the emanator 1 is placed.

The emanator 1 may be capable of emanating the fragrance composition for a period of at least four weeks before all of the composition has emanated. Once all of the composition has emanated only the water-swelled beads 3 shall remain in the interior of the container 2. With no more liquid composition to keep the beads wetted, the beads will begin to loose the liquid contained therein and shrink as the lost liquid evaporates from the container and/or is transported via the sticks out of the container. The size of the beads will be reduced quite dramatically during this process of liquid loss therefrom, the beads being reduced in size to at least less than four times their swelled size. Advantageously, this reduction in bead size is easier for a user of the device to notice in contrast to a dropping of the liquid level 4 in the container 2. Therefore the user is provided with a clear end of life indicator whereby they clearly understand that replacement of the emanator 1 or refilling of the emanator 1 with more of the solvent and perfume system is required.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A reed emanator composition comprising a fragranced liquid and a plurality of resin beads, wherein the fragranced liquid comprises at least one perfume oil and at least one organic solvent, and wherein the resin beads comprise a water-swelled acrylate resin.

2. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one perfume oil is preferably selected from: a natural perfume oil, a synthetic perfume oil; an essential oil; and combinations thereof.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a solvent system is provided comprising more than one solvent and wherein said solvent system is substantially completely comprised of organic solvents, and preferably comprises only organic solvents.

4. A composition according to any preceding claim the at least one solvent is one or more of: propylene glycol ethers, including mono, di- and tri- propylene glycol ethers; siloxanes; paraffinic hydrocarbons; terpinyl acetates; and alcohols.

5. A composition according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the at least one solvent propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether.

6. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one solvent is free or substantially free from water.

7. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the resin beads are formed from an acrylate resin copolymer which have been swelled in water.

8. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the resin beads are coloured with a colour that corresponds to a colour typically associated with the fragrance to be emanated from the fragrance emanator.

9. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the resin beads are capable of being swelled up to substantially 100 times their original size, and preferably to at least 4 times their original size.

10. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the water-swelled beads comprise 0.5-20 %weight of resin and 80-99.5 %weight of water; and preferably comprises 1-10 %weight of resin and 90-99 %weight of water;

11. A composition according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the water swelled beads comprise 1 -5 %weight of resin and 95-99 %weight of water; and preferably comprise substantially 1.5 %weight of resin and substantially 98.5 %weight of water.

12. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the composition comprises the components in the following amounts: 10-99 %weight fragranced liquid and 1-90 %weight resin beads; and preferably comprises 30-90 %weightfragranced liquid and 10-70 %weight resin beads;

13. A composition according to any of claims 1-11 , wherein the composition comprises 40-80 %weight fragranced liquid and 20-60 %weight resin beads; and preferably comprises 55-65 %weight fragranced liquid and 35-45 %weight resin beads.

14. A method of manufacture of a reed emanator composition according any preceding claim wherein the method comprises the steps of: preparing a fragranced liquid comprising the mixing of at least one perfume oil with at least one solvent; preparing a plurality of water-swelled resin beads; subsequently combining the mixture of perfume(s) and solvent(s) with the resin beads.

15. A method of manufacture of a plurality of resin beads for inclusion in a reed emanator composition according to any of claims 1-13 comprising the steps of: immersing a plurality of resin beads into a reservoir of water for at least 60 minutes; substantially continuously agitating the water and resin beads for said at least 60 minutes; removing the water-swelled resin beads from the water.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the resin beads are immersed for 120 minutes +/- 10 minutes.

17. The method according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the water and resin beads substantially continuously agitated.

18. The method according to any of claims 15-17, wherein the water and bead combination is agitated by passing compressed air through the reservoir.

19. A reed emanator comprising a composition according to any of claims 1-13, wherein the plurality of resin beads are made according to any of claims 15-18, and wherein the fragrance composition is made according to claim 14, and wherein the emanator comprises a container having at least one opening to the surrounding environment and the emanator is provided with plurality of elongate wicks.

20. A reed emanator according to claim 19, wherein the wick(s) are dimensioned to be greater than the container height, and preferably at least double the container height.

21. An end of life indicator for a reed emanator comprising a container having at least one opening to the surrounding environment and a plurality of elongate wicks for insertion in to the opening and the interior of the container, the reed emanator further comprising a composition consisting of a fragranced liquid of at least one perfume oil and at least one solvent and a plurality of water-swelled Acrylate resin beads, characterised in that the water-swelled resin beads are provided in the fragranced liquid whereby said beads are configured, in use, to decrease in size toward the end of life of the reed emanator.