Fragrance containing fiber

A fragrance-emitting substantially single phase polymeric fiber of from about 3 denier to about 60 denier comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of:

• polyurethane,
• HD polyethylene;
• LD polyethylene;
• Polypropylene;
• Polyvinyl chloride;
• Copolymers of ethylene with a polar vinyl monomer selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) vinyl acetate;
• (b) ethyl acrylate;
• (c) methyl acrylate;
• (d) butyl acrylate;
• and
• (e) acrylic acid;
• and admixed therewith at least one aroma-imparting component, which optionally has efficacious antimicrobial properties and optionally (i) one or more antimicrobial substances and/or (ii) at least one compatible coloring material or color-forming material which is useful for the ascertainment of the exhaustion or substantial reduction of fragrance, having a structure according to FIG. 7E, reference numeral 70, wherein the concentration of aroma-imparting component taken alone or in combination with additional antimicrobial substance is from about 1% to about 45% by weight of the fiber and the concentration of additional antimicrobial substance, when present, is from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the fiber, produced according to the process consisting essentially of the sequential steps of:
• (a) providing foamed or non-foamed polymer matrix particles having releasably entrapped therein at least one aroma-imparting component which optionally has efficacious antimicrobial properties and optionally (i) one or more additional antimicrobial substances and/or (ii) at least one compatible coloring material or color-forming material which is useful for the ascertainment of the exhaustion or substantial reduction of fragrance wherein the concentration of aroma-imparting component taken alone or in combination with additional antimicrobial substance is from about 1% to about 45% by weight of the polymer matrix particles and the concentration of additional antimicrobial substance, when present, is from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the polymer matrix particles;
• (b) optionally admixing the polymeric matrix particles with a particulate non-fragranced compatible polymer whereby a matrix polymer particulate mixture is formed;
• (c) forming the polymer matrix particles or the matrix polymer particulate mixture into one or more continuous fragrance-emitting fibers of from about 3 denier to about 60 denier by means of the hot extrusion of the polymer particles or matrix polymer particulate mixture in a hot runner system;
• and
• (d) cooling the resulting hot one or more continuous fragrance-emitting fibers.