Quats have been used in disinfectants and germicides for more than 25 years. Many companies have used quats as room sprays to eliminate odors. Their common activity on germs as well as odors is to destroy them. Quats, which are quaternary ammonium compounds, simply destroy organic matter.

Quats are used in the automobile industry due to their ability to aid in the drying of cars after washing with soap containing quats. Quats also give finishes a water-beading effect.

Many of the products that utilize quats also contain fragrances. Quats destroy fragrances. As a result, some companies offer lines of quat-stable fragrances.

Unfortunately, many companies using quats are simply not aware of the adverse effect quats may have on many fragrances.

Regretably, some of the manufacturers of quats do not always inform their customers that quats have an adverse effect on fragrances. As a result, the customer is not being assisted by the quat company.

From my discussion with the president of one of the giants, these companies don’t like to advise their customers of the adverse effects quats may have on the fragrances they use in their formulations. This stance is truly regrettable.

I did extensive research on the destruction of fragrances by quats 25 years ago. I recently repeated this work.

A large number of materials used in fragrances were chosen materials that consist of both chemicals and natural oils. Three classes were chosen: aldehydes, alcohols and esters. Mixtures were reported at various concentrations, but the most striking results were obtained from fragrances at a concentration of 2 percent and with a concentration of quats at 10 percent in ethyl alcohol. A temperature of 140 degrees was chosen due to the fact that most warehouses maintain this temperature during the summer months. The experiment was carried out for 90 days. A gas chromatograph was used to monitor the materials of interest.

Breakdown was very obvious for essential oils containing aldehydes, such as lemon that contains citral a alha beta unsaturated aldehyde. Changes were observed for the other aldehydes. Alcohols were destroyed to a lesser degree, and esters were least affected.

Aldehydes are a very essential ingredient in many fragrances. Quats break down aldehydes. It is clear that the fragrance company has to substitute ingredients for the aldehydes. The action of quats in a soap, for example, is insidious because it does not happen immediately. Therefore, the user is not aware of the quat having an adverse effect. The reaction is slow and it takes considerable time for the effect of the destruction to be noted, and it is usually while the product is in storage. It is therefore essential for the manufacturer to tell the fragrance company that they are using a quat and at what concentration.

The company using a fragrance for evaluation must test the fragrance at a temperature of at least 140 degrees and for at least a month. It must contain at least twice the amount of quat normally used, and you must compare it with the product that only contains the fragrance and no quat.

Many unsuspecting manufacturers make the product using a quat and smell it for a day or so and do not see any adverse effects. They therefore purchase the perfume, use it and then get complaints from customers who indicate products in storage for several months have lost fragrance.

Finally, it is essential to inform the fragrance company that you are using a quat and depending on the concentration used, the fragrance company can suggest a quatstable fragrance.

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