How to reduce alcohol smell from pump hairspray?

Formulating

How to reduce alcohol smell from pump hairspray?

Posted by Gunther on July 20, 2018 at 1:38 am

Besides hiding the alcohol smell with fragance.

1. Is Ethyl alcohol smell less severe than Isopropyl alcohol?

2. Does dry alcohol (95%) is less smelly than those with higher water content?
How much water to add before it takes forever to dry and polymers become tacky?

3. Can you at least replace some alcohol for some other safe solvents?
(can’t seem to find dimethyl ether here, will ethyl acetate work?)

4. Can you add some dimethicone?
(I tried adding 0.75% dimethicone with 0.75% BTMS-50, can you add more dimethicone while still being water thin suitable for a spray pump?)

Thanks in advance.

Dr Catherine Pratt replied 5 years, 9 months ago 3 Members · 9 Replies
9 Replies

ozgirl

Member
July 20, 2018 at 3:42 am

Ethyl alcohol smells much better than isopropyl alcohol so I would definitely start there.

Ethyl acetate is used as the main solvent in non-acetone nail polish removers and does not smell great.
Gunther

Member
July 21, 2018 at 4:07 am

Thank you @ozgirl

I’ll see if alcohols are readily soluble in cyclomethicone D5

The volatile alcohols are readily soluble in the cyclomethicone provided that water is substantially removed from the formulation. The inclusion of at least one volatile alcohol will substantially enhance the evaporation rate of the cyclomethicone…

…While not being limited by way of theory, it is believed that the volatile alcohols function to enhance the evaporation rate of the cyclomethicones through their solubility, by functioning as integral active chemical dispersants to increase volatility of the cyclomethicones…

https://patents.google.com/patent/US5338535
Dr Catherine Pratt

Member
July 21, 2018 at 6:35 am

@Gunther Benzyl Alcohol has a beautiful aromatic smell, it’s used in perfumery? Or you could try fruits like Apple?
Gunther

Member
July 22, 2018 at 7:20 pm

Thanks @Dr Catherine Pratt
Maybe it can be used at up to 1%, due to regulations.

I tried mixing
30% Silicone mix (15% dimethiconol, 85% cyclomethicone D5)
70% ethyl alcohol 95%
5% PVP K-30

and then without the PVP

30% Silicone mix (15% dimethiconol, 85% cyclomethicone D5)

70% ethyl alcohol 95%

in both experiments silicone formed an insoluble gunk
not soluble despite vigorous mixing.

The next week I’ll buy some pure cyclomethicone
and see if it’s really soluble in alcohol.
Dr Catherine Pratt

Member
July 26, 2018 at 7:53 am

Hi @Gunther check out: Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate

Use Levels: 0.3-5%

Solubility: Oil and Water Dispersible.
Gunther

Member
July 26, 2018 at 5:05 pm

I just got some cyclopentasiloxane (cyclomethicone D5)

50% ethyl alcohol @ 95%
50% D5
didn’t hold in solution, and a liquid layer separated.

60% alcohol
40% D5
held fine.

but
60% alcohol
40% D5
4% PVP K-30
the liquid layer separated again.

I will do some more experimenting and keep you guys posted.
Gunther

Member
July 27, 2018 at 1:31 pm

PVP didn’t dissolve in pure cyclomethicone D5

then tried
70% by volume ethyl alcohol 95%
4% by weight PVP K-30
allow to fully dissolve
then added
30% vol D5
it seems to hold
I’ll need to make a larger batch in another container to be totally sure there ain’t no tiny layer separating at the top.
Gunther

Member
July 27, 2018 at 7:20 pm

I ain’t sure the above formula is holding
it’s a bit cloudy and while leaving it standing, it becomes clear
if you shake it, it becomes cloudy again.

Just for fun I tried melting some BTMS in a metal spoon with a lighter underneath (insert Breaking Bad mems here lol)
and pouring it in room temperature D5
it doesn’t seem to hold.
Dr Catherine Pratt

Member
July 31, 2018 at 8:04 am

@Gunther how are you going with the smell? I have never made hairspray I must admit not my area but when you were talking about the smell, I remember a hairspray that smelled like Apples. So when I said the fruits are good I didn’t explain it. I thought that maybe they used some of the acetates

https://www.google.com.au

Here is the link:

/search?q=alcohol+%2B+carboxylic+acid+picture+with+fruits&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=UXcgv8_kkO4vwM%253A%252CZ2xGUlBxa8IbjM%252C_&usg=AFrqEzdvPQz5hK5lLP2LwpD8ZopCzNs4vA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7-JmZ8MjcAhWBWbwKHdpkB58Q9QEwAXoECAUQBg#imgrc=UXcgv8_kkO4vwM: