Fabrics industry gets a little more fragrant

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

CHICAGO —

It smells … good!

Decorative fabrics and a host of fabric-applied products now can have a scent of their own.

Z-Tex, a converter of decorative and upholstery fabrics, as well as a dyer and finisher of fabrics, has launched a program of scented fabrics. Initially, explained John Zita, president, "We are offering four fragrances — eucalyptus, vanilla, peppermint and lavender. They all have a spa sense. But we're also working on a cedar fragrance that would have great application for closet and storage products."

Z-Tex became interested in the broad scope of scented fabrics as it was finishing some fabrics for top of the bed in its Dover, Ga. plant. "We have an exclusive for 12 months and are looking to expand its potential," Zita related. High on the list of potential scents is an animal deterrent that could have wide applications for furniture and bedding.

To create the scents, fabrics are given a bath finish, the fragrance then is encapsulized, heated and cured, he explained. The scents will hold for 40 home laundries.

The fragrance application adds $1.50 per yard to the cost of the fabric.

The process does not have health or safety limitations and no skin irritation is caused, he said.