An investigation of internal phase losses during the microencapsulation of fragrances

Prototype fragrances, prepared from common fragrance components, were extracted with water, recovered, and characterized by gas chromatography before and after the water treatment, revealing a significant loss of the more water-soluble components. Unextracted prototype fragrances were also microencapsulated by a gelatin/gum arabic coacervation process. The microencapsulated fragrance oils were recovered from the microcapsules, using pepsin enzyme to open up the capsules. Comparison of GC results of microencapsulated fragrance oil versus unencapsulated oil showed many of the changes could be ascribed to solubility losses of the more water-soluble components to the process water. Deliberate inclusion of toluene as a fragrance component in one of the prototype fragrances showed that some losses of highly volatile fragrance components can be expected during microencapsulation; but because most fragrance components do not approach the volatility of toluene, such losses are expected to be minimal. Chromatograms taken before and after microencapsulation of two commercial fragrances are discussed.