Coty has filed an international patent for a machine which enables customers to blend and refill empty perfume containers in store.
The beauty giant’s method of refilling a used container with fragrance features a transfer system that mixes pre-selected amounts of fragrance concentrate, distilled water and organic compound ethanol.
Working in that exact order – fragrance concentrate, distilled water and ethanol – “provides a fragrance to a user having the same organoleptic properties as the original fragrance,” Coty said in the patent.
“Refilling with ethanol last serves a dual function of adding an ingredient to the refillable container and cleaning the components to which the ingredients of fragrance concentrate, distilled water and ethanol were exposed.”
It said the method would also be suitable for a “plurality of fragrance concentrates”, which would be dispensed at concentrations of up to 20% weight by weight (w/w).
The company says the station could be used with a range of refillable bottles – both transparent and opaque – and these would be weighed before filling for accuracy.
The station will also feature a digital interface for easy use by customers.
The patent was filed in May 2022 and published in December 2022.
Last year, Coty launched its first-ever refillable scent – Chloé Rose Naturelle Intense – which underwent an independent environmental footprint life cycle assessment.
The 100ml and 150ml refill bottles were found to reduce up to 65% in greenhouse gas emissions, use 67% less water and 66% less energy compared to five regular 50ml bottles.
Coty has a number of fragrances in its beauty portfolio, including Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Roberto Cavalli and Hugo Boss.
One of the design drawings of the refilling station in Coty's patent
How does Coty’s refilling station work?
Coty said the refilling station works by adding a preselected amount of fragrance concentrate to the inlet of the refilling platform.
This is then transferred through the outlet into the empty container, partially filling it in.
A preselected amount of distilled water is then added to the inlet of the refilling platform.
This is transferred through the outlet to the partially filled container, which contains the fragrance concentrate.
Ethanol is then added to the inlet, where in the refilling platform, it is concurrently cleaned while transferring it through the outlet to the container which contains the preselected volume of fragrance concentrate and distilled water.
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