Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process for preventing and/or counteracting smoke malodours on a surface, by applying to the surface, a composition comprising one or more macrocyclic musks selected from cyclohexadecanolide, cyclopentadecanone or cyclopentadecanolide. The invention also covers perfumes, and products comprising said perfumes, which incorporate the one or more macrocyclic musks.

Abstract: Mixtures of at least two of the macrocyclic musk fragrances hexadecanolide, cyclopentadecanone and pentadecanolide and methods of using such mixtures are described. These mixtures possess substantivity to proteinaceous and cellulosic substrates which is significantly better than the substantivity of the separate components and are therefore very suitable for perfumes to be applied in products intended for treating skin, hair or textile fibers, such as bath and shower products, shampoos, laundry detergents, rinse conditioners, fabric softeners and the like. The mixtures are thus able to replace polycyclic musk fragrances in such products.

Abstract: A substrate (e.g. skin of unknown type, fabric, or hard surfaces) is characterized by analyzing chemicals emanating from the substrate or from a substance (e.g. a test formulation comprising a mixture of volatile chemicals) applied to the substrate. Analysis is preferably done using a volatile chemicals sensor, desirably a sensor comprising an array of conducting polymer sensors. The chemical analysis data obtained in this way may be statistically analyzed, e.g. by Euclidian distance mapping or principal component analysis, for ease of handling. Having characterized a surface in this way, products, e.g. cosmetic and cleaning products, may be formulated for optimized performance on that substrate.