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Methods of reducing the perception of body odors with olfactory adaptation and cross-adapting agentsRelated Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Anti-perspirants Or Perspiration Deodorants, Zirconium Compound ContainingMethods of reducing the perception of body odors with olfactory adaptation and cross-adapting agents description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070020210, Methods of reducing the perception of body odors with olfactory adaptation and cross-adapting agents. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/342,626, filed Jan. 15, 2003, and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/349,111, filed Jan. 16, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/390,313, filed Jun. 21, 2002, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to human olfactory adaptation, including human olfactory cross-adaptation, and to methods, cross-adapting agents and compositions to reduce the perception of body odors, including gender-specific body odors. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Olfactory adaptation is a phenomenon that is generally understood to include a decrease in sensitivity to an odorant that results from exposure to that odorant. Such adaptation can result, at least in part, from peripheral events, such as fatigue of the receptor. [0004] Cross-adaptation is a phenomenon that is generally understood to include a decrease in sensitivity to one odorant, e.g., odorant B, that results from exposure to a different odorant, e.g., odorant A. Cross-adaptation can result from competition for receptor sites in the periphery. For example, when odorant A occupies the receptors that would be preferentially occupied by odorant B, it may induce cross-adaptation in that receptor and desensitize the population of receptors to odorant B. [0005] Alternatively, cross-adaptation can result from the processing of information about odors within brain circuitry. For example, if odorants A and B both utilize, at least in part, the same circuits, and the system is occupied by processing information about odorant A, then the individual will be less sensitive to odorant B because there is competing information being processed. If odorant B is an unpleasant or unwanted odor, for example, that of underarm sweat, also called axillary odor, and odorant A is a pleasant-smelling odorant or fragrance, then the presence of the pleasant-smelling odorant could act as a cross-adapting agent to diminish the impact of the axillary odor. [0006] Body odors, including axillary odors, are produced by males and females. It is generally recognized that both sexes produce more axillary odors during times of stress and/or strong emotional situations. The apocrine glands are sensitive to blood levels of epinephrine (adrenaline). Stress and other strong emotional situations increase blood levels of adrenaline causing the apocrine glands to rapidly secrete relatively large amounts of their contents to the skin surface. Stress-derived axillary odor is produced during episodes of high apocrine gland output via rapid metabolism of apocrine gland-rich axillary secretions by cutaneous axillary bacteria. [0007] Although it is often desirable to reduce the perception of malodors by both sexes, females are known to be more sensitive to a number of odorants including, but not limited to, axillary odorants and display, on average, greater olfactory sensitivity to odorants than males. In addition, females exhibit greater olfactory sensitivity to odorants at certain times in their menstrual cycle. It is desirable to identify methods and agents for reducing the perception of male and female body odors by women, as well as the perception of male and female body odors by men. [0008] Agents that are capable of reducing the perception of body odors may be used in cosmetic and personal products, including, but not limited to, gender-specific cosmetics and personal products. They may also be used in compositions that reduce the perception of malodors, including gender-specific malodors. For example, it could be desirable to include cross-adapting agents in goods directed to females that selectively block or reduce male or female malodors. Similarly, it could be desirable to include fragrances in goods directed to males that selectively block or reduce male or female malodors. It could also be desirable to use such agents in compositions and methods that are not gender-specific. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention provides deodorant compositions comprising at least one cross-adapting agent alone or in combination with other such agents, in an amount effective to reduce perception of male and female malodor. The present invention also provides gender-specific deodorant compositions comprising at least one cross-adapting agent alone or in combination with other such agents, in an amount effective to reduce perception of male malodor. The present invention further provides other gender-specific deodorant compositions comprising at least one cross-adapting agent alone or in combination with other such agerits, in an amount effective to reduce perception of female malodor. Such malodors may include, but are not limited to, axillary odors, whether or not such axillary odors are stress-derived. [0010] In one preferred embodiment, the cross-adapting agent or combination of such agents comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the deodorant composition. [0011] The present invention also provides methods of reducing perception of body odor or malodor comprising administering a deodorant composition that includes a cross-adapting agent alone or in combination with other such agents in an amount effective to reduce perception of male and female body odor. The present invention also provides methods of reducing perceived male body odor or malodor, as well as methods of reducing perceived female body odor comprising administering a deodorant composition comprising an amount of cross-adapting agent effective to reduce perception of a gender specific body odor. [0012] Further, the present invention provides methods of blocking male or female body odor by administering deodorant compositions comprising an amount of cross-adapting agent or combination of such agents effective to occupy an odorant receptor site thereby blocking interaction of the site with other odorants. [0013] In a further embodiment of the present invention, methods are provided for making a deodorant composition comprising providing a cross-adapting agent alone or in combination with other such agents in an amount effective to reduce perception of malodor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Cross-adaptation has been found to be an effective methodology for inhibiting the perception of body malodors. It has been found that significant cross-adaptation may occur between certain adapting agents and malodors, including gender-specific malodors. For example, it has been found that certain adapting agents reduce the perceived intensity by females of the body odor from males. Also, it has been found that certain adapting agents reduce the perceived intensity by males of the body odor from males. In addition, it has been found that certain adapting agents reduce the perceived intensity by males of the body odor from females. Finally, it has been found that certain adapting agents reduce the perceived intensity by females of the body odor from females. For the malodors from each gender, these include axillary odors. [0015] The terms "a, an, and the" are used herein include the plurals of those same words. [0016] The term "malodor" as used herein refers to an odorant that may be perceived by some to be unpleasant, including but not limited to body odor, odors originating from bathrooms, clothes hampers, locker rooms, gymnasiums, and the like. [0017] The term "body odor" as used herein refers to a malodor associated with and/or that emanates from the human body including, but not limited to, axillary odor, fecal/urine odors, and odors related to the female menstrual cycle. [0018] The term "axillary odor" as used herein refers to a malodor from human armpits including, but not limited to, apocrine secretions and/or odors generated from stress. [0019] The term "stress-derived axillary odor" as used herein refers to axillary odor resulting from bacterial metabolism or base hydrolysis of apocrine gland secretions. Continue reading about Methods of reducing the perception of body odors with olfactory adaptation and cross-adapting agents... 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