Deodorant compositions containing a polycarboxylic acid salt

Deodorant composition comprising at least one zinc or magnesium salt of a polyacid of the general formula:

• ##STR12## in which X is --CH.dbd.CH-- or CHOH--CHOH--, Y is a hydrogen atom, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxyls, a saturated or unsaturated alicyclic radical of up to 30 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxyls or by a carboxylic acid group, or Y denotes a carboxylic acid radical when p=O, Z denotes a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon of up to 6 carbon atoms, n is an integer less than 10, p is O or an integer less than or equal to n, and R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, or of a positional isomer of such a polyacid, and a carrier selected from the group consisting of a cream including an emulsifier and a soap or a fatty alcohol, a gel containing a thickener, a lotion containing a substance selected from the group consisting of lower alcohols having from one to four carbon atoms, alkylene glycols, and glycol ethers, a compacted powder containing a dispersing agent, and an aerosol packaged dry spray including a propellant agent.

A method of reducing or preventing odor, especially body odor comprising the step of applying, to an odiferous or potentially odiferous zone, an effective amount for reducing odor of a deodorant composition comprising at least one zinc or magnesium salt of a polyacid of the general formula:

• ##STR13## in which X is --CH.dbd.CH-- or CHOH--CHOH--, Y is a hydrogen atom, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxyls, a saturated or unsaturated alicyclic radical of up to 30 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxyls or by a carboxylic acid group, or Y denotes a carboxylic acid radical when p=O, Z denotes a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon of up to 6 carbon atoms, n is an integer less than 10, p is O or an integer less than or equal to n, and R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, or of a positional isomer of such a polyacid and a cosmetically acceptable carrier.