Abstract: A method of diffusing a volatile component comprising mixing a volatile component from a volatile substance with air having a relative humidity of 70% or higher and diffusing the mixed vapor. A device for diffusing a volatile component comprises a volatile component volatilizing part (6) for volatilizing a volatile component from a volatile substance and a high-humidity air generating part (1) for generating high-humidity air, wherein the volatile component (B) volatilized from the volatile component volatilizing part (6) and the high-humidity air (A) generated from the high-humidity air generating part are mixed and diffused outside.

Abstract: A method of diffusing a volatile component comprising mixing a volatile component from a volatile substance with air having a relative humidity of 70% or higher and diffusing the mixed vapor. A device for diffusing a volatile component comprises a volatile component volatilizing part (6) for volatilizing a volatile component from a volatile substance and a high-humidity air generating part (1) for generating high-humidity air, wherein the volatile component (B) volatilized from the volatile component volatilizing part (6) and the high-humidity air (A) generated from the high-humidity air generating part are mixed and diffused outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaluating skin conditions, which comprises applying at least two chemical substances to the skin, measuring amounts of said at least two chemical substances penetrated into the skin and calculating out the ratio between the amounts penetrated into the skin; and a kit for evaluating skin conditions, comprising a reagent containing at least two chemical substances and a measuring device of amounts of the chemical substances penetrated into the skin, wherein said at least two chemical substances are applied to the skin, amounts of said at least two chemical substances penetrated into the skin are measured by means of the measuring device, and the ratio between the amounts penetrated into the skin is calculated out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition to be applied to hair or skin, which comprises (A) a surfactant and 0.00025 to 1 wt. % of (B) a perfume substance having an aromatic, pyran or furan ring and a carbonyl group, ether bond, carboxyl group or nonaromatic unsaturated bond, and having a CLogP value not greater than 1.5. The composition has a high perfume retentivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 mean individually an alkyl or alkenyl group which may have --OH and has 1-24 carbon atoms, A denotes an alkylene or alkenylene group which may have at least one --OH, --COOH or --SO.sub.3 H and has 1-6 carbon atoms, y.sup.1 is --COOH, --SO.sub.3 H or --OSO.sub.3 H, y.sup.2 means --OH, --OSO.sub.3 H or --OCO--A--COOH, n stands for a number of 0 or 1, and p is an integer of 1-8, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, and a detergent composition containing such a compound. This compound is low in irritativeness to the skin and hair and excellent in foamability, and can give a pleasant feeling to the user's skin and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyvalent metal salts of a phosphoric diester represented by formula (1) and organo(poly)siloxanes modified with a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric diester having the structural units represented by formulae (9) and (10): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a C1 to C20 linear or branched alkyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and independently represent a C2 to C3 linear or branched alkylene group, R.sup.3 represents a C3 to C20 linear or C5 to C20 branched alkylene group, A represents a group --COO-- or --O--, x and y are the same or different from each other and independently represent an integer of 0 to 10, L represents a C1 to C40 linear or branched alkyl group or a group, R.sup.1 --(OR.sup.2).sub.x --A--R.sup.3 (OR.sup.4).sub.y -- wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, A, x and y have the same meaning as defined herein before, M represents a divalent or polyvalent metal atom, and m represents the same value as the valence of M.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 mean individually an alkyl or alkenyl group which may have --OH and has 1-24 carbon atoms, A denotes an alkylene or alkenylene group which may have at least one --OH, --COOH or --SO.sub.3 H and has 1-6 carbon atoms, Y.sup.1 is --COOH, --SO.sub.3 H or --OSO.sub.3 H, Y.sup.2 means --OH, --OSO.sub.3 H or --OCO--A--COOH, n stands for a number of 0 or 1, and p is an integer of 1-8, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, and a detergent composition containing such a compound. This compound is low in irritativeness to the skin and hair and excellent in foamability, and can give a pleasant feeling to the user's skin and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 2-hydroxypropanediamine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 mean individually a linear or branched C.sub.6 -C.sub.36 alkyl or alkenyl group, X denotes a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylene or alkenylene group which may be substituted by at least one hydroxyl, sulfonic or carboxyl group and has 1-6 carbon atoms, y.sup.1 is a sulfonic group, a sulfuric acid residue or a carboxyl group, y.sup.2 means a hydroxyl group, a sulfuric acid residue or ##STR2## and n stands for 0 or 1, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, and a detergent composition containing such a compound. This compound is low in irritativeness to the skin and hair and excellent in foamability, and can give a pleasant feeling to the user's skin and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to organo(poly)siloxanes modified by phosphates (including alkali metal salts thereof or the like) suitable as a component of cosmetics, and to a process for the manufacture of organo(poly)siloxanes modified by phosphates (including alkali metal salts thereof or the like) comprising reacting an organo(poly)siloxane having a group HO--(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --R.sup.5' --OR.sup.6).sub.r -- in its molecular chain, wherein R.sup.4 -R.sup.6 are alkylene groups, with an oxyhalogenated phosphorus; and further reacting it with an alkaline solution. These phosphate-modified organo(poly)siloxanes can stably emulsify silicone oils commonly used as cosmetic raw materials, irrespective of temperatures, and exhibit excellent compatibility with polar components and good foaming capability, so that they are suitable as a component of cosmetics such as skin cosmetics, skin detergents, hair cosmetics, hair detergents, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a nitrile represented by the general formula (1):RC.ident.N (1)wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl or aryl, each may have a substituent, characterized by heating an aldoxime represented by the general formula (2):RCH.dbd.NOH (2)wherein R is as defined above, in the presence of one or more catalysts selected from hydroxides of alkali metals, alcoholates of alkali metals, hydroxides of alkaline earth metals and alcoholates of alkaline earth metals, and distilling off water formed in the course of the reaction from the reaction system. The process according to the present invention can produce a nitrile which is useful as a perfume or as a starting material for the organic synthesis of perfumes, medicines and so on in high yields and advantageously from the viewpoint of production economy.

Abstract: Phosphoric diesters having formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an acyl group having at least one phenyl group; R.sup.2 is a C.sub.2-12 linear or branched alkylene group which may optionally be inserted with an oxygen atom between carbon atoms thereof; L is a C.sub.2-40 linear or branched alkyl group which may optionally be inserted with an oxygen atom between carbon atoms thereof or the group R.sup.1 -O-R.sup.2 ; M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal ion, a metal ion of di- or higher valence, an ammonium group, an alkanolammonium group having 2 to 14 carbon atoms, C.sub.1-14 alkylammonium group; and n is the valence of M are useful UV absorbing compounds. The phosphoric diesters remain on the skin for long periods of time and exhibit lasting UV shielding effects. The compounds and the cosmetic compositions containing the compounds are very safe to the skin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a nitrile represented by the general formula (1):RC.ident.N (1)wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl or aryl, each may have a substituent, characterized by heating an aldoxime represented by the general formula (2):RCH=NOH (2)wherein R is as defined above, in the presence of one or more catalysts selected from hydroxides of alkali metals, alcoholates of alkali metals, hydroxides of alkaline earth metals and alcoholates of alkaline earth metals, and distilling off water formed in the course of the reaction from the reaction system. The process according to the present invention can produce a nitrile which is useful as a perfume or as a starting material for the organic synthesis of perfumes, medicines and so on in high yields and advantageously from the viewpoint of production economy.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ether alcohol is disclosed, which comprises subjecting a cyclic ketal to hydrogenolysis in the presence of a catalyst containing palladium in an amount of from 50 to 100% by weight, based on the total active catalytic component present. According to the inventive process, ether alcohols which are useful as perfumes or raw materials for perfumes can be produced easily with low cost and high yield.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition comprises:(A) a nonionic amphipathic compound having in the molecule thereof at least one branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 10-36 carbon atoms and at least three hydroxyl groups, and having a lamellar liquid crystal structure itself at 25.degree. C. and at 50.degree. C. or higher; and(B) a compound represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a group ##STR2## R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a methoxy group; R.sup.3 is a direct bond or a saturated or unsaturated divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; each Y and each Z are independently hydrogen atoms or hydroxyl groups; and p, q and r are each independently integers of 0 to 5, excepting the case where all of p, q and r are zero and Z is H, and the case where all of p, q and r are zero, R.sup.1 is H and Z is OH.

Abstract: A novel phosphobetaine is disclosed. This compound is very excellence in that it exerts a conditioning effect of imparting a good feel to the skin or hair, is excellent in humidifying properties, is available at a low price, and thus it is highly usable in detergents, cosmetics, a bathing preparation and the like. A detergent composition, a cosmetic, and a bathing preparation each containing the phosphobetaine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A biological pure culture of a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus and being capable of oxidizing the allyl position of .alpha.-cedrene, a process for producing sec-cedrenol comprising contacting a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus with .alpha.-cedrene, and a process for producing cedrenone comprising oxidizing sec-cedrenol produced by a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus, are disclosed. According to the process of the present invention, sec-cedrenol can be produced efficiently within a short period of time and with high purity. In addition, the process of the present invention can produce cedrenone with a high yield in a large quantity within a short period of time.

Abstract: A method of desensitizing hypersensitive dentin is disclosed. The method comprises treating teeth of patients suffering from hypersensitive dentin with a colloid produced by mixing (a) a salt of polyvalent metal and (b) a polyol phosphate and/or a water-soluble salt thereof. The colloid can constrict or occlude dentinal tubules in the tooth dentin, exhibiting a continuous effect on the desensitization of hypersensitive dentin owing to the very high absorptivity of the colloid to teeth. The colloid does not impair taste, and does not produce precipitate near the neutral region, enabling it to be used safely.

Abstract: A 1-(2,6-dimethylphenyloxy)-2-alkanol of formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and perfume compositions containing the alkanol having an intense woody note, and are useful as fragrance-imparting ingredients for various compositions, particularly in the cosmetic field.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing an alcohol or an amine by reducing a compound having a formyl, keto, nitro, oxirane, ester, nitrile, amide or halogenated carboxyl group with an alkali metal boro-hydride in the presence of a compound having a hydroxyl group and ether linkage. According to the present invention, a functional group having a great steric hindrance can be reduced, and a corresponding alcohol or amine can efficiently be produced under very mild conditions on an industrial scale.

Abstract: An .alpha.-(alkylcyclohexyloxy)-.beta.-alkanol of formula (1) ##STR1## wherein at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 is the group ##STR2## wherein R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are the same or different alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or are coupled with each other to form a cycloalkyl group, and R.sup.11 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons or is a hydrogen atom when R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 form the cycloalkyl group, and the remaining R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 groups are hydrogen atoms or methyl groups, and wherein R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are hydrogen atoms or the same or different alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.