Aromatherapy in textiles

Aromatherapy is increasingly being used in textiles, as it can interact with the consumer by reducing stress, promoting comfort, and relaxation. The key factor in the production of aroma textiles is their long-term aroma-releasing properties, which makes it necessary for the products to have good influencing power, stability, durability, and retention behavior. The aroma can be applied to textiles by enclosing it in a microcapsule, and then applying it to textiles by padding, coating, spraying, or bath treatment, without altering their feel and color. Microcapsules represent an extra degree of freedom in the formulation or development of the aroma products, and the use of microcapsules is one means of achieving controlled release of the core inner material. In microencapsulation, the core material for aromatherapy purposes is sealed in minute shells, measuring anywhere from a few μm to a few hundred μm, and then dispersed in a matrix. Microencapsulation as a micropackaging technique is also the dominant means for achieving controlled release both in product volume and dollar value. It can be used to prospectively produce aroma textiles that meet a competitive and demanding consumer market.