The present invention relates to a herbicide formulation based on pine oil. The present invention also relates to a method of reducing unwanted vegetation in a soil environment and a method for reducing seed viability using the herbicide formulation. The herbicide formulation comprises a pine oil, a tall oil, and an alkali. The formulation has improved herbicidal properties, and is less subject to coagulation at low ambient temperatures.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing p-menthane-3,8-diol, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

a. preparation of an aqueous solution comprising between 0.05% and 5% by mass, preferably between 0.05% and 2% by mass, preferentially between 0.05% and 1% by mass, even more preferentially between 0.05% and 0.5% by mass of an ammonium salt, the said ammonium salt being characterised in that it is selected from the group formed by an amino acid ammonium salt, and in particular an amino acid hydrochloride, a vitamin B ammonium salt, and in particular a vitamin B hydrochloride, an ammonium salt of an amino acid ester, and an ammonium salt of a vitamin B ester, or is defined by the following formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 represents a benzyl, optionally substituted, or R.sub.1 represents an alkyl, either linear or branched, optionally cyclical, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferentially from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent a hydrogen or a methyl group, and X represents a chlorine atom, bromine atom or an OR′ group, R′ being an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,

b. adding of citronellal to the aqueous solution obtained in the step a), and obtaining a mixture;

c. stirring and heating of the mixture obtained in the step b);

d. decanting of the reaction medium obtained at the end of step c) and obtaining at least two phases; and

e. separation of the said at least two phases obtained in the step d), and obtaining at least one aqueous phase and at least one organic phase, the said organic phase comprising at least p-menthane-3,8-diol.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing p-menthane-3,8-diol, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

a. preparation of an aqueous solution comprising between 0.05% and 5% by mass, preferably between 0.05% and 2% by mass, preferentially between 0.05% and 1% by mass, even more preferentially between 0.05% and 0.5% by mass of an ammonium salt, the said ammonium salt being characterised in that it is selected from the group formed by an amino acid ammonium salt, and in particular an amino acid hydrochloride, a vitamin B ammonium salt, and in particular a vitamin B hydrochloride, an ammonium salt of an amino acid ester, and an ammonium salt of a vitamin B ester, or is defined by the following formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 represents a benzyl, optionally substituted, or R.sub.1 represents an alkyl, either linear or branched, optionally cyclical, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferentially from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent a hydrogen or a methyl group, and X represents a chlorine atom, bromine atom or an OR′ group, R′ being an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,

b. adding of citronellal to the aqueous solution obtained in the step a), and obtaining a mixture;

c. stirring and heating of the mixture obtained in the step b);

d. decanting of the reaction medium obtained at the end of step c) and obtaining at least two phases; and

e. separation of the said at least two phases obtained in the step d), and obtaining at least one aqueous phase and at least one organic phase, the said organic phase comprising at least p-menthane-3,8-diol.

Disclosed herein are spatial insect repellent compositions comprising pyrethrins and about 5% to about 20% by weight p-menthane-3,8-diol.

Disclosed herein are spatial insect repellent compositions comprising pyrethrins and about 5% to about 20% by weight p-menthane-3,8-diol.

Use of the molecule with the following formula (I) for its fungicidal and/or bactericidal activity on fungi, oomycetes and/or pathogenic bacteria of plants and crop seeds. ##STR00001##

The various aspects presented herein relate to the field of antimicrobial compositions and their use as antibacterial agents, or their use for the preparation of antimicrobially active perfuming compositions and consumer products.

The various aspects presented herein relate to the field of antimicrobial compositions and their use as antibacterial agents, or their use for the preparation of antimicrobially active perfuming compositions and consumer products.

A natural repellent is based upon the use of pine oil as the sole active ingredient, in combination with inert ingredients (such as denatured ethanol or ethyl alcohol) and a proper conveying medium. The pine oil may take the form of a refined oil of pine, aromatic compounds thereof, or any derivative or monoterpene compound thereof. In particular, the repellent is based upon the use of 0.01-50% refined pine oil (by volume) and is particularly well-suited for use as a tick repellent, as well as for controlling the presence of other biting/non-biting insects and arachnids.

A natural repellent is based upon the use of pine oil as the sole active ingredient, in combination with inert ingredients (such as denatured ethanol or ethyl alcohol) and a proper conveying medium. The pine oil may take the form of a refined oil of pine, aromatic compounds thereof, or any derivative or monoterpene compound thereof. In particular, the repellent is based upon the use of 0.01-50% refined pine oil (by volume) and is particularly well-suited for use as a tick repellent, as well as for controlling the presence of other biting/non-biting insects and arachnids.