Unexpectedly Enhanced Pigments Compositions and Processes

Abstract

Better than expected or empirically predicted odorant blends which contain one or more pigments, where the pigment influences the perceived identity of the odorants origin, such as an origin that is apple, lime, or grape, or where the pigment influences the preference for or nature of the perceived aroma, or influences an odor-associated flavor that may be evoked by the odorant, such as that of fruitiness, sweetness, sourness, or bitterness.

Claims

1. A formulation comprising a coloring and an odorant, wherein the odorant provides a perceivable odor to the formulation, and wherein the coloring provides a perceivable color to the formulation.

2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein in the coloring in pure form does not have a perceivable odor, and wherein the odorant in purified form does not have a perceivable color.

3. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the perceivable odor is orange, lemon, lime, or berry.

4. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the coloring is orange, yellow, green or blue.

5. The formulation of claim 1 that at room temperature and atmospheric pressure is one of a liquid, slurry, paste, oil. powdered solid, a non-powdered solid, or any combination thereof.

6. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the odorant in purified form has a first odor, wherein the odorant in purified form, mixed with a coloring in purified form has a second odor, and wherein the first odor is more intense than the second odor as determinable with perception tests with human subjects.

7. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the odorant in purified form has a first odor, wherein the odorant in purified form mixed with a coloring in purified form has a second odor, and wherein the first odor is less intense than the second odor as determinable with perception tests with human subjects.

8. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the odorant in purified form has first odor that is perceivable as smelling like a first kind of fruit, wherein the odorant in purified form mixed with a coloring in purified form has a second odor that is perceivable as smelling like a second kind of fruit.

9. The formulation of claim 1 that is capable of use in an electronic cigarette, wherein the electronic cigarette is capable in use of emitting a smoke, and wherein the coloring is capable of being perceived as having a color in the smoke emitted by the electronic cigarette.

10. The formulation of claim 1 that is capable of use in a beverage for human consumption.

11. The formulation of claim 1 that is capable of use in one or more of a skin lotion, perfume, cosmetic, for human consumption.

12. The formulation of claim 1 that is capable of use in a confection, cake frosting, or candy, for human consumption.

13. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises at least one plain pigment and at least one cannabinoid.

14. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises at least one plant pigment, and at least one terpene.

15. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises at least one non-plant pigment and at least one cannabinoid.

16. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises at least one non-plant pigment and at least one terpene.

17. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises D-Limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-myrcene, linalool, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, alpha-bisabolol, alpha-pinene, terpinolene, but not any caryophyllene-oxide, optionally with orange pigment (Tangie).

18. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises D-Limonene, beta-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-myrcene, linalool, alpha-humulene, alpha-bisabolol, alpha-pinene, terpinolene, but not any caryaphyllene-oxide, optionally with yellow pigment (Lemon Rush).

19. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises D-Limonene, beta-myrcene, alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, linalool, alpha-bisabolol, caryophyllene-oxide, terpinolene, optionally with green pigment (Lime Dream).

20. The formulation of claim 1 that comprises Beta-myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, D-Limonene, alpha-pinene, alpha-humulene, beta-pinene, linalool, alpha-bisabolol, terpinolene, caryophyllene-oxide, terpinolene, optionally with blue pigment (Berry Cush).

21. The formulation of claim 17, comprising orange pigment, wherein the orange pigment acts by synesthesia to increase preference by a human subject of one or both of the odor or flavor of Tangie.

22. The formulation of claim 18, comprising yellow pigment, wherein the yellow pigment acts by synesthesia to increase preference by a human subjects of one or both of the odor or flavor of Lemon Kush.

23. The formulation of claim 19, comprising green pigment, wherein the green pigment acts by synesthesia to increase preference by a human subject of one or both of the odor or flavor of Lime Dream.

24. The formulation of claim 20, comprising blue pigment, wherein the blue pigment acts by synesthesia to increase preference by a human subject of one or both of the odor or flavor of Berry Cush.

25. A formulation for an electronic cigarette comprising 0.05%-5% guaiazulene, about 10% terpenes, about 65% phytol, and about 24.5% cannabinoids, wherein the perception of grape odor is greater than that for a formulation comprising 0-0.03% guaiazulene, about 10% terpenes, about 65% phytol, and about 24.5% cannabinoids.

26. A formulation for an electronic cigarette comprising 0.05%-5% guaiazulene, about 10% terpenes, about 65% phytol, and about 24.5% cannabinoids, wherein the perception of grape flavor is greater than that for a formulation comprising 0-0.03% guaiazulene, about 10% terpenes, about 65% phytol, and about 24.5% cannabinoids.

27. A formulation for an electronic cigarette, comprising 0.01%-0.05% chamazulene, about 5% terpenes, and about 94.99% cannabinoids, wherein the perception of grape odor is greater than that for a formulation comprising 0-0.005% chamazulene, about 5% terpenes, and about 94.99% cannabinoids.

28. A formulation for an electronic cigarette, comprising 0.01%-0.5% chamazulene, about 5% terpenes, and about 94.99% cannabinoids, wherein the perception of grape flavor is greater than that for a formulation comprising 0-0.005% chamazulene, about 5% terpenes, and about 94.99% cannabinoids.

29. A formulation of claim 1 contained within a vapor cartridge of an electronic cigarette that comprises a light emitting diode.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example One

[0032] This is a study of odor perception, 10 mL of an odorant blend was added to two separate 20 mL vials. A small quantity of pigment was added to the second vial, but not the first. This resulted in two vials that differed only in a single variable: colored versus colorless. This was repeated for three other odorant blends using a different pigment each time. Pigments were matched to odorants based upon colors commonly associated with the odorant. This led to four sets of odorant vials, in which one vial of each odorant was colored and one was colorless with the following pigment/odorant combinations:

[0033] Orange (odorant)Orange (pigment)

[0034] Lemon (odorant)Yellow (pigment)

[0035] Lime (odorant)Green (pigment)

[0036] Berry (odorant)Blue (pigment)

[0037] Subjects were presented each, pair of odorant vials successively and asked to determine which of the pair smelled more intense. A choice of equal intensity was not an option. Subjects were told the name of the odorant/flavor. This was done for each pair of the four odorants and the results were recorded.

[0038] Table 1 provides Munsell data. The names orange, yellow, green, and blue, each refer to solutions of the present disclosure. The numbers on top (1, 2, 4, and 4) refer to solutions of the present disclosure. The numbers on top are lightest (1) to darkest (4) for each color. The data in the table refers to sixteen different solutions from the inventor's lab bench work. The designations in each of the cell of the table refer to specific Munsell codes. For example, 7.5Y 8/14 refers to one particular code from the Munsell book for the color of the pigmentation of each vial used.

[0039] Table of colored solutions of the present disclosure with corresponding Munsell codes.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Colored solutions of the present disclosure with corresponding Munsell color codes light . . . dark 1 2 3 4 Orange 1 no color 7.5Y 8/14 10.0YR 7/14 10.0R 4/12 Yellow 2 no color 10.0Y 9/2 10.0Y 9/14 10.0Y 8/12 Green 3 no color 10.0G 8/2 2.5G 7/8 2.5G 3/12 Blue 4 7.5Y 8/14 10.0G 8/4 5.0PB 4/16 2.5PB 1/6

[0040] Subject 1 (75% colored=more intense). Colored evaluated as more intense: Orange, Lemon, Berry; UN-colored more intense: Lime.

[0041] Subject 2 (75% colored=more intense). Colored evaluated as more intense: Orange, Lemon, Lime; UK-colored more intense: Berry.

[0042] Subject 3 (50% colored=more intense). Colored evaluated as more intense: Orange and Lemon. UN-colored more intense: Berry and Lime.

[0043] Odorants and associated solvents (or absence of solvents) are disclosed below. These odorants with solvents (where indicated) were used in the experiments described herein.

[0044] Orange: Orange Oil Terpeneless (no solvents); Vigon (504919) Lot #: 31025A03

[0045] Lemon: Lemon Oil Terpeneless (no solvents); Vigon (504922) Lot #: 28318A01.

[0046] Lime: Lime Oil Distilled Terpeneless (no solvents); Vigon (505005) Lot #: 31303A02.

[0047] Berry: Berry Mix Flavor (propylene glycol and ethanol base): The Flavor Apprentice Batch #: 16F1196.

[0048] The color of the completed solution that was used for testing subjects is disclosed below. Also disclosed below, is the color chart and number on the color chart that defines the color.

[0049] Orange: RAL 1033 49/22240.

[0050] Yellow: 16-202 John Deere Yellow (note: more fluorescent, i.e. yellow highlighter, than this shade).

[0051] Green: 40276 (American Colors Inc.)

[0052] Blue: 16-60 B&M Blue.

[0053] The number of milligrams of pigment added per 10 milliliters of solvent, for each of the blends, was as follows.

[0054] Orange: beta-carotene [CAS No. 7235-40-7], 1.0 mg/mL (i.e. 10 mg per 10 mL phytol). Supplier: Sigma (22040) Lot #: BCBL5379V.

[0055] Yellow: curcumin [CAS No. 458-37-7]]0.01 mg/mL (i.e. 0.1 mg per 10 mL phytol). Supplier: Sigma (C1386) Lot #: SLBN7214V.

[0056] Green: chlorophyllin Na Cu salt [CAS No. 11006-34-1], 1.0 mg/mL (i.e. 10 mg per 10 mL phytol). Supplier: Sigma (C6003) Lot SLBN2378V.

[0057] Blue: guiazulene [CAS No. 489-84-9], 0.1 mg/mL (i.e. 1.0 mg per 10 mL phytol). Supplier: Vigon International (504145) Lot #: 5055FA01.

Example Two

[0058] This describes fee laboratory environment and study subjects. The approximate distance of the open vial from the subject's nose, when doing the perception experiment, was one to two inches. The duration of smelling time, when the subject was doing the perception experiment was one second. The delay in time, between the subject doing the smelling and the subject reporting the smell from one of the vials, was two seconds. The room used for testing was lit by a combination of incandescent light and natural light from a window during mid-afternoon. No fluorescent light was used. The noise level in the testing room was residential quiet. The study subjects were between the ages of about 35 to about 55.

Example Three

[0059] Table 2 discloses reagents, compositions, and concentrations of the present disclosure.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Exemplary reagents and formulations of the present disclosure Sesquiterpenes (guaiene type) Guaiazulene Chamazulene Vetivazulene % Ranges 1-50% guaiene type sesqui 50-99% terpene blend/phytol 0-1% guaiene type sesqui 0-15% terpene blend 0-95% diluent (dipropylene glycol/phytol) 0-95% cannabinoids Examples of formulas Cannabis ecig (e-cigarette) liquid 0.5% guaiazulene 10% terpenes 65% phytol 24.5% cannabinoids Colored concentrate 0.01% chamazulene 5% terpenes 94.99% cannabinoids Colored ecig liquid 0.01% vetivazulene 10% terpene blend 89.99% dipropylene glycol Carotenoids Carotenes Lycopene (E160d) Beta-carotene (E160a) N Xanthophylls Violaxanthin N Neoxanthin N Bixins (E160b) Apocarotenal (E160e) Food orange 7(E160f) Flavoxanthin (E161a) Lutein (E161b) N Cryptoxanthin (E161c) N Rubixanthin (E161d) Violaxanthin (E161e) Rhodoxanthin (E161f) Canthazanthin (E161g) Zeaxanthin (E161h) N Citranaxanthin (E161i) Astaxanthin (E161j) Concentrated solutions 1-5% carotenoid 95-99% terpene blend/phytol/dipropylene glycol Final product ranges 0-1% carotenoid 0-15% terpene blend 0-95% diluent 0-95% cannabinoid Diarylheptanoids Curcumin (E100) Curcumenoids Concentrated solutions 0-0.1% curcumin 99.9-100% terpene blend/phytol/dipropylene glycol Final product ranges 0.00001-0.1% curcumin 0-15% terpene blend 0-15% terpene blend 0-95% diluent 0-95% cannabinoids Chlorophylls Chlorophyllin (E141) Concentrated solutions 0-1% chlorophyllin 99-100% dipropylene glycol 0-15% terpene blend 0-95% diluent 0-95% cannabinoids Flavonoids Anthocyanidins Anthocyanins (E163) Anthoxanthins Concentrated solutions 1-10% flavinoid 90-99% diluent 0-1% flavinoid 0-15% terpene blend 0-95% diluent 0-95% cannabinoids Other Riboflavin (E101) Betanin (E162) Carmine

[0060] Plant pigments. This discloses the application of plant pigments to cannabis products. Pigments for use in compositions of the present, disclosure include the following. Guaiene sesquiterpenes, carotenoids, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, and diarylheptanoids. Guaiane sesquiterpenesguaiazulene and vetriazulene xanthophylls (bixins E160b, apocarotenal E160e, food orange 7 E160f, flavoxanthin E161a, lutein E161b cryptoxanthin E161c, rubixanthin E161d, violaxanthin E161e, rhodoxanthin E161f, canthaxanthin E161g, zeaxanthin E161f, citranaxanthin E161i, astaxanthin E161j) carotenes (lycopene E160d, beta-carotene E160a) diarylheptanoids (curcumin E100, curcumenoids) Anthocyanidins and anthocyanins betanin (E62) carmine chlorophyllin (E141) natural green 3.

[0061] Native Pigments. neoxanthin, violaxenthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, b-cryptoxanthin, b-carotene, chlorophyll a & b.

[0062] Colors of Pigments. Guaiazulene can be used to color a clear extract shades of blue or yellow extract shades of yellow-green. Carotene and lutein can be used to color extracts orange. Lycopene can be used to color extracts orange-red. Curcumins can be used to color an extract bright yellow and make them fluoresce under UV radiation. Guaiazulene and curcumins together can make shades of green that fluoresce. Anthocyanins can make extracts many shades of purple, red and blue.

[0063] Smell of Pigments. In a non-limiting embodiment, pigmentation of cannabis extracts does not lead to off flavors.

[0064] Solubilities of Pigments. The present disclosure encompasses solubility embodiments. Anthocyanins are only soluble in OBP (dipropylene glycol), not it nexus or cannabinoids alone. Anthocyanins in OBP can be added to cannabinoids and terpenes to make red colored extracts.

[0065] Guaiazulene is soluble in cannabinoids, terpenes, nexus, and obp and all useful combinations. Curcumins are soluble at necessary levels for full pigmentation of obp, nexus, and terpenes. Lutein and carotene are soluble in both obp, nexus, terpenes, and cannabinoids.

[0066] Without implying any limitation on the present disclosure, pigments that are non-plant pigments include hemoglobin, indigo carmine, allura red, quinoline yellow, FD&C Blue No. 1Brilliant Blue FCF, FD&C Blue No. 2Indigotine, FD&C Green No. 3Fast Green FCF, FD&C Red No. 3Erythrosine, FD&C Red No. 40Allura Red AC, FD&C Yellow No. 5Tartrazine, FD&C Yellow No. 6Sunset Yellow FCF, Citrus Red 2 (orange shade), Orange B (red shade).

Example Four

[0067] Examples of formulas are disclosed in Table 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Examples of formulas This formula encompasses products that for sale for the consumer to add to their extracts. diluents 85-95% terpenes 5-15% pigments 0.0001-1% This formula is a final diluted inhalable product. cannabinoids 10-50% diluents 45-80% terpenes 5-15% pigments 0.0001-1% This formula is a final undiluted inhalable product cannibinoids 85-90% terpenes 5-10% pigments 0.0001-1% This formula is an in-process ingredient used for the dilution, flavoring, and coloring of extract diluents 50-99% terpenes 5-50% pigments 0.0001-50%

Example Five

[0068] This disclosed the 10 terpenes that the present inventors report for each flavor in descending order of prominence.

[0069] Tangie (orange): D-Limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-myrcene, linalool, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, alpha-bisabolol, alpha-pinene, terpinolene, caryophyllene-oxide [none] (Tangie contains all of these terpenes, but does not have any caryophyllene-oxide.)

[0070] Lemon Kush (yellow): D-Limonene, beta-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-myrcene, linalool, alpha-humulene, alpha-bisabolol, alpha-pinene, terpinolene, caryophyllene-oxide [none] (Lemon Kush contains all of these terpenes, but does not have any caryophyllene-oxide.)

[0071] Lime Dream (green): D-Limonene, beta-myrcene, alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, linalool, alpha-bisabolol, caryophyllene-oxide, terpinolene.

[0072] Berry Cush (blue): Beta-myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, D-Limonene, alpha-pinene, alpha-humulene, beta-pinene, linalool, alpha-bisabolol, terpinolene, caryophyllene-oxide, terpinolene.

[0073] For the formulations named. Tangie, Lemon Kush, Lime Dream, and Berry Cush, these formulations are colorless. Except for alpha-bisabolol, the terpenes have a flavor. Alpha-bisabolol is the only terpene that when tasted by itself does not have a flavor.

Example Six

[0074] In synesthesia embodiments, the present disclosure provides a pigmented oil with a color commonly associated with a particular odorant/flavor (e.g. green pigment with lime odorant/flavor) increases a users perception of the intensity, and possibly identity, of the lime flavor. This embodiment uses the sense of sight to make the vaporizable oil products taste better. In the conducted tests, the colors of the compositions were clearly evident to all subjects, and the investigators intentionally drew the attention of the study subjects to the colors. The compositions were in transparent glass vials.

[0075] The present disclosure provides a composition that comprises one or more of the above reagents. Also, the present disclosure provides a composition that consists of only one, only two, only three, only four, only five, only six, only seven, only eight, only nine, or only ten of the above reagents. Moreover, the present disclosure provides methods of manufacture, methods of laboratory testing with human subjects (testing for aesthetic appeal testing for preference, testing for medicinal qualities), and methods of use by a consumer, where the method uses one or more of the above reagents. Also, the method can exclude one or more of the above reagents.

[0076] The present disclosure provides tests for human subjects that can determine a composition that is most preferred and a composition that is least preferred from a predetermined selection of compounds. Also, the present disclosure can determine a composition that is preferred over all other compositions. The following is one practical test, useful with human subjects.

[0077] Please take a participant card and fill out the name, age and smoker-status sections. Next you will see four sets of four vials in front of you. Each is labeled with a number designation (e.g. 3.2). The first number designates the aroma and the second number is a variation of that aroma. For each aroma, smell all four variations and choose the one you find the MOST pleasing and the one you find the LEAST pleasing. Mark these selections on your participant card. Try nor to spill any liquid on you. If you do, simply wash with soap and water to remove. Vial contents are non-toxic, but may stain clothing. After evaluating all four aromas and making your selections on the participant card, feel free to leave any thoughts, or other utterances, in the comments section. Please fold and place your completed Participant Card into the accompanying Completed box and kindly refrain from discussing with others unless they have already taken part in the experiment. Your participation in the advancement of aroma perception science is greatly appreciated.

Pigment, Color, Flavor, and Solubility Embodiments

[0078] Generally, the term pigment refers compositions that can be identified or distinguished by names of chemicals and where the pigment is perceivable as having a color. The term color refers to what is perceived by a human subject. A spectrophotometer can also determine color.

[0079] Potential Pigments: Guaiene sesquiterpenes, carotenoids, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, and diarylheptanoids. Guaiane sesquiterpenesguaiazulene and vetriazulene, xanthophylls (bixins E160b, apocarotenal E160e, food orange 7 E160f, flavoxanthin E161 a , lutein E161 b cryptoxanthin E161c, rubixanthin E161d. violaxanthin E161e, rhodoxanthin E161f, canthaxanthin E161g, zeaxanthin E161f, citranaxanthin E161i, astaxanthin E161j). carotenes (lycopene E160d, beta-carotene E160a) diarylheptanoids (curcumin E100, curcumenoids), Antbocyanidins and anthocyanins, betanin (E162), carmine, chlorophyllin (E141) natural green 3.

[0080] Native Pigments: neoxanthin, violaxenthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, b-cryptoxanthin, b-carotene, chlorophyll a & b, guaizulene.

[0081] Colors of Pigments: Guaiazulene can be used to color a clear extract shades of blue or yellow extract shades of yellow-green. Carotene and lutein can be used to color extracts orange. Lycopene can be used to color extracts orange-red. Curcumins can be used to color an extract bright yellow and make them fluoresce under UV radiation. Guaiazulene and curcumins together can make shades of green that fluoresce. Anthocyanins can make extracts many shades of purple, red and blue.

[0082] Smell of Pigments: The present disclosure demonstrates that the pigmentation of cannabis extracts does not lead to off flavors.

[0083] OFF-FLAVOR TESTING. Methods and equipment for detecting and quantifying off-flavors are available. See, for example. Marsili R G (1999) SPME-MS-MVA as an Electronic Nose for the Study of Off-Flavors in Milk. J. Agric. Food Chem., 47:648-654; Wilkes J G et al (2000) Sample preparation for the analysis of flavors and off-flavors in foods. Journal of Chromatography A. 880:3-33; Benanou D et al (2003) Analysis of off-flavors in the aquatic environment by stir bar sorptive extractionthermal desorptioncapillary GC/MS/olfactometry. Analytical Bioanalytical Chem. 376:69-77.

[0084] Solubilities of Pigments: Anthocyanins are only soluble in dipropylene glycol (i.e. OBP), not in nexus or cannabinoids alone. Anthocyanins in OBP can be added to cannabinoids and terpenes to make red colored extracts. Guaiazulene is soluble in cannabinoids, terpenes, nexus, and obp and all useful combinations. Curcumins are soluble at necessary levels for full pigmentation of obp, nexus, and terpenes. Lutein and carotene are soluble in obp, nexus, terpenes, and cannabinoids.

[0085] Non-Chemical Pigment Influences: Pigments may be modified by use of light, lightwaves, ultrasonic waves, other sound wave, and wave influences. LED lights on apparatuses that may contain the pigments or be in touch with the pigments, being soluble in obp, nexus, terpenes or cannabinoids.

[0086] Preference Testing by Human Subjects

[0087] The present disclosure provides, without implying any limitation, protocol for testing preferences by human subjects. The protocol can require that human subject designate either preferred or not preferred. Another embodiment for protocol, can require that the subject designate preference in terms of a scale, for example, a scale ranging from zero (least preferred) to ten (most preferred), where the scale takes the form of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. Also, the scale can range from zero to two (0, 1, 2), or zero to three (0, 1, 2, 3), or zero to four (0, 1, 2, 3, 4), and the like. The invention of the present disclosure can exclude any composition, or can exclude any method that uses a composition, where the composition was not determined to be preferred by at least 50% of a population of human subjects (where preference was determined under controlled laboratory testing conditions).

[0088] In preferred embodiments of the present composition and related methods, the present composition can require preference by human subjects in a controlled laboratory testing environment, that a given composition be preferred (in tests given only the option of preferred versus not preferred), by at least 20%, by at least 30%, by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%, by at least 90%, or by at least 95% of the human subjects.

[0089] In preferred embodiments of the present composition and related methods, the present composition can require preference by human subjects in a controlled laboratory testing environment, that a given composition be preferred (in tests giving the options of zero (least preferred), one, and two (most preferred)), that the a preference value of two is designated by at least 20%, by at least 30%, by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%, by at least 90%, or by at least 95% of the human subjects.

[0090] In preferred embodiments of the present composition and related methods, the present composition can require preference by human subjects in a controlled laboratory testing environment, that a given composition be preferred (in tests giving the options of zero (least preferred), one, two, and three (most preferred)), that the a preference value of two is designated by at least 20%, by at least 30%, by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%, by at least 90%, or by at least 95% of the human subjects.

[0091] In preferred embodiments of the present composition and related methods, the present composition can require preference by human subjects in a controlled laboratory testing environment, that a given composition be preferred (in tests giving the options of zero (least preferred), one, two, and three (most preferred)), that the a preference value of three is designated by at least 20%, fay at least 30%, by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%, by at least 90%, or by at least 95% of the human subjects. This criterion optionally can be combined with the criterion set forth in the previous paragraph.

[0092] What can be excluded is any composition or method, where the composition was not determined to be preferred by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by at least 95%, by at least 99% of the human subjects. For these exclusionary embodiments, the term preferred can refer to tests that required either a yes/no preference level.

[0093] Alternatively, where tests required that subjects designate a preference on a scale of zero to three, or zero to four, or zero to five, and so on, what can be excluded are compositions and method, where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least a two, or where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least a three, or where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least a four, or where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least a five, or where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least a six or where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least a seven, or where at least 50% of the subjects did not designate at least an eight, and so on.

[0094] Certain embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

[0095] Specific embodiments disclosed herein may be further limited in the claims using consisting of or consisting essentially of language. When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the transition term consisting of excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claims. The transition term consisting essentially of limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s). Embodiments of the invention so claimed are inherently or expressly described and enabled herein.

[0096] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other modifications that may be employed are within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations of the present invention may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to that precisely as shown and described.