Natural pickering emulsions for long-lasting topical scent delivery
Innovative natural formulation platforms using flavonoid-stabilized Pickering emulsions and oleogel-based emulsions for controlled release of volatile compounds in topical products. These systems enhance stability and slow down volatile loss, suitable for high fragrance oil loading.
Overview
Politecnico di Torino presents advanced natural formulation platforms designed to revolutionize topical scent delivery. The research focuses on two systems: flavonoid-stabilized Pickering emulsions and oleogel-based emulsions. These innovative solutions address main limitations in current topical scent formulations, such as poor phase stability and rapid volatile loss. By utilizing natural micro-sized particles like quercetin and curcumin as stabilizers, these platforms enable high fragrance-oil loading with minimal phase separation, offering long-lasting scent retention in various topical formats.
Technical specifications
Flavonoid-stabilized Pickering emulsions:
- Use flavonoid micro-sized particles as interfacial stabilizers.
- Enhance stability of high fragrance-oil-loaded emulsions.
- Reduce phase separation and volatile loss.
Oleogel-based emulsions:
- Structure mixtures of fragrance and formulation oil.
- Slow down diffusion and evaporation of volatile compounds.
- Water addition improves rheological and sensorial properties.
Both platforms are compatible with >10% fragrance oil loading and can be adapted to creams, roll-ons, sticks, or ointments.
Technology readiness level
The technology is at TRL 4, with plans for an 8–12 week proof of concept to optimize formulations. Prototypes will be tested for stability, viscosity, and scent retention under accelerated conditions, aiming for commercialization readiness.
About Politecnico di Torino
Politecnico di Torino is a major public, STEM-focused polytechnic university in Italy known for applied research and deep industry partnership. Companies engage on campus through co-located labs, shared facilities, and corporate-access research space, with options from sponsored projects to multi-year agreements. Being in Turin embeds the university in a dense mobility and manufacturing ecosystem, enabling rapid prototyping, pilot testing, and links to OEM supply chains. Research is supported by competitive European Commission programs alongside national and regional funding, often in collaboration with industry. A dedicated technology transfer office and an on-campus startup incubator streamline IP, licensing, and spinout creation.
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