Product Design
Flavor Development 670800 - 680800
Fields
- Author
- DAYLOR, FL JR
- Named Organization
- ADAMS
- Amer, American Tobacco
- BAT, British American Tobacco
- CHARMS
- CLARK
- FILTER DEVELOPMENT GROUP
- FLAVOR DEVELOPMENT GROUP
- HTI, HOME TESTING INST
- POL, Product Opinion Lab
- US TESTING
- WRIGLEY
- Brand
- BELMONT
- Benson & Hedges (PM)
- BIG BEN
- DERBY
- Diplomat
- Fiesta
- GOLD LEAF
- Kool (BW (1933-2003)/RJR (2003-present))First Menthol cigarette line, released in 1933. Premium priced brand.
- L&M
- Lark
- LIDO
- Marlboro (PM)
- Montclair
- MULTIFILTER
- NORTH DOLE
- Parliament (PM)
- Philip Morris
- REGIOS
- RICHOND
- Saratoga
- SILVA
- Tareyton (ATC)
- True (Lor)
- Viceroy (bw)
- Virginia Slims (PM)
- VISCOUNT
- WINDSOR
Document Images
CONFIDENTIAL
PROJECT 2305
FLAVOR DEVELOPMENT
PERIOD COVERED BY REPORT: August 1967 - August 1968
DATE OF REPORT: August 28, 1968
PROJECT LEADER: F. L. Daylor, Jr.
The objective of the Flavor Development Group is to supply
the flavor and fragrance support for the consumer product
development activities. The group's activities include formula-
tion, application, and evaluation. Only a relatively small part
of the group's work is charged to 2305. The major part of the
work is directeditoward cigaret and other development projects.
The objective for Project 2305 specifically is to explore,
develop, and evaluate new flavors for tobacco, confectionary,
and toiletries products. The following is a report of the
Flavor Development Group's Work.
1. CIGARET FLAVORS
A. Parliament with Plastic Dilution Tip
No off flavor due to the plastic had been found and work
had been in progress to develop flavors for the 100mm Parliament
with the plastic dilution tip. Models delivering 14mg tar and 18mg
tar had been developed. The obvious flavor defects were the thin
body and the hot andidry effects. The hot and'dry effects had
also been noted in earlier work with other air dilution candidates.
The earlier work hadpresented several leads on desirable flavor
additives for this type cigaret. Many flavors were screened by
injection into cigarets made with regular Parliament filler with
the normal flavors and the appropriate filter dilution system~.
The promising candidates were studied further by overspraying the
additives on Parliament filler and making cigarets from the treated
filler. After a series of panel evaluations and other evaluations

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by Projiect and Manufacturing Department personnel, flavors
38'86-89 + 90 and 3728-9'6-A were selected as the most promising
candidates for the 100mm Parliament with the plastic dilution
tip delivering 18mg tar. Both~flavors were applied to 100
pound quantities of filler and cigarets were made in Tobacco
Processing. A control cigaret was also made and it delivered
the target tar, unfortunately both flavored sampl'es delivered
slightly less than the target level of tar. Booth testing
prior to the mailout test was favorable and the tests were
released. Both flavor candidates were tested against the control
and the flavor candidates were tested~against each other. The
report of the test results stated that the panelists could~not
distinguish between the cigarets on any of the three compari.sons.
Prior to the completion ofthe mailout test, the 100mm
fluted-diluted Parliaments were introduced into test markets
in Albany and Providence. At the same time, 80 and 85mmifluted-
diluted Parliaments were also introduced into test markets in
Albany and San Antonio replacing the regular Parliament product.
The 80 and 85mm fluted-diluted products were soon withdrawn~and
replaced by the regular product. The 100mm fluted-diluted product
continued inthe Albany and Providence markets. The early test
marketing of the 80 and 85mm products left the flavor formulation
work for these products incomplete. However, flavors were developed
and evaluated through POL booth testing for the following products:
85mm Parliament 80mm Parliament
14mg Tar 14mg Tar
12mg Tar 11mg Tar
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Flavors were also developed for the 100mmifluted-diluted Parlia-
ment
delivering 14mg tar. These flavor candidates were also
evaluated through booth testing at POL.
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B. North Pole
For about five years, menthol filters have been~the
fastest growing segment of the cigaret market. However,
Philip Morris has not captured the same proportionate share
of the menthol market as they have with regular filters; this
is the reason for the North Pole project.
The objective for the flavor development work for the North
Pole cigaret was to develop a mentholated cigaret with flavor
characteristics similar to Kool. C. I. data showed higher
nicotine delivery and lower menthol delivery for Kool than
Philip Morris menthol brands. Jointly with Manufacturing
Department personnel and Mr. Mason, the Marlboro Green blend. was
modified to increase the nicotine delivery of the cigaret. On
the first attempt, the nicotine delivery was increased to a
level beyond that of Kool, however, the menthol level was far
too low.
At the same time, flavor formulation studies were in
progress. The studies identified some flavor additives besides
the higher nicotine delivery blends that gave similar effects
in smoke to tne flavor of Kool. A series of five samples of 100mm
mentholated cigarets were made. The samples included an equilibrated~
menthol cigaret and flavors suggested by both R & D and Manuufac-
turing Department personnel. From this series of five, two
(3909 and 3912) were selected for large scale evaluation. 3909
and 3912 were tested against each other in a POL mailout test.
The results of the test were not clear cut, however, a slight
lead for 39'12 over 3909 was indicated. Both 3909' and 3912 (100mm
cigarets) were tested against 85mm Kools in separate HTI tests.
The results were very favorable for both North~Pole candidates,
so much~so that the results were attributed more to the 100mm
length rather than~to the flavors. The results of this series
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of tests involving 100mm North Pole candidates indicated that
3912 enjoyed a very slight preference over 3909 and.was more
similar to Kool than 3909. Hence, 3912 was remade as an 85mm
cigaret for testing against Kool in another HTI test. For
3912, a Benson and Hedges type blend is used with a modified
Marlboro Green flavor along with flavor 3871-1-4. While the
HTI test of the 85=3912 was in progress, several new higher
alkaloid~blends were evaluated and none of them showed any major
advantage over the 3912. At the same time, additional flavor
candidates were considered on both the Benson and Hedges type
filler and the high alkaloid blends; none of these showed any
major advantage over the 3912.
The 85mm 3912 was a definite winner over Kool on the HTI
test. The 85mm model delivered about 19mg tar. The 100mm
models had delivered about 21mg tar. There was interest in a:
diluted 100t=North~Pole that would deliver about 15mg tar.
Samples of the rods from each of the five 100mm candidates were
hand assembled with an appropriate filter dilution system to
reduce the delivery to 15mg tar. From this experiment, sample
3911 was selected as the most promising flavor candidate of the
five readily available. Flavor formulation work did not quickly
produce a better candidate. Hence, a diluted 3911 which is a
Benson and Hedges type rod with modified'Marlboro Green flavors
with a fig additive is considered the best candidate for this
purpose.
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By this time the name Lido had been~selected for the brand.
It was recognized that 3912 was a "mainstream" menthol filter
cigaret. The question arose whether the Lido could.be given
a mark of distinction. There were several novel flavors under N
development. The one of these that had drawn most favorable 0
comment was the orange flavor. Hence, an orange modification of
3912 was also developed. The orange modification of 3912 is
being evaluatedin an HTI test against 3912. Gn
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C. Virginia Slims
The objective of the flavor development work in the develop-
ment of the Slim~cigaret was to be evaluation. The first samples
of Slims to come to our attention were made with Benson and
Hedges filler and were found to be harsher than Benson and Hedges
100's by the Descriptive Panel. With the product aimed for the
female market, the rationale was that the product should be mild
and certainly no harsher than the Benson and Hedges 100. It
would facilitate matters if the filler selected were one of the
regular blends rather than a:special blend. Consequently, the
Commander blend was evaluated. Subjective response to the
cigaret was favorable but the delivery was higher. The sweetness
of the Commander was the desirable flavor feature.
It was recognized that the Slim would have to compete with
Silva Thins both in flavor and in subjective response. To more
fully evaluate the available blends, a series of samples were
made in the factory using Marlboro, Benson and Hedges, and
Command'er filler at two RTD levels. Flavor evaluations of this
series indicated that Marlboro filler gave similar response to
the Benson and Hedges filler and.the choice to be made was
between these two and the Commander. Evaluations with Manufac-
turing Department personnel showed that at the 5.0" RTD level
the Commander rod gave the smoother smoke. Both the Commander
and the Benson and'Hedges Slims were made at the 5.0 and the 5.5
RTD levels. At the lower RTD the sweetness of the Commander was
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preferable but at the higher RTD the Bensonand Hedges and
Commander rods delivered comparable flavors. At the higher RTD
the Benson and Hedges Slims delivered about 17.0mg tar and the
Commander delivered 19.5mg tar. Considering the flavor and the
tar, the Benson and Hedges filler was selected.
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The Benson and Hedges Slims were compared with Silva Thins
in booth testing. The Slim cigarets were found to be a more accept-
able cigaret by a slight margin. The Silva Thins evaluated was
a recently revised product. The former Silva Thin contained a
higher percentage of reconstituted tobacco plus inert filler.
The former product was not available for our panel testing.
There was interest in a mentholated companion for the
VirginiaSlim. The mentholated product was specified to be a
cigaret similar to the regular Slim with a menthol impact
equivalent to Benson and Hedges 100 menthol. Menthol levels
were adj,usted both on the basis of smoking evaluations and'puff
by puff menthol delivery data. HTI tests were scheduled for
the non-menthol product against Benson and Hedges 100''s and for
the Slim menthol against the Benson and Hedgea100 menthol. The
non-menthol Slim was booth tested against Silva Thins and~the
higher tar delivery of the Slim resulted in greater response
to the Slim than to the Silva Thins. The same Slim sample was
also booth tested against Benson and Hedges 100's and'the Slim
performed very well. The Slim menthol also performed very well
in booth testing against the Benson and Hedges 100 menthol. These
favorable performances were particularly impressive when considering
that the Benson and Hedges products deliver about 2 more mg of
tar and'the obvious difference in circumference.
Flavor evaluations of the samples for the HTI tests with
Manufacturing Department personnel suggested that perhaps the
flavor level on the Slims was to high. New sampLes were generated.
The samples with the reduced flavor level were a little low in
tar delivery. However, the change in flavor level did not indicate
any advantage nor did it show that the normal level was a problem.
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HTI test results are not available yet. Observations in
the field indicate a potential problem with the apparent fast
burn. The combination ofthe fast burn and the small circumference
might lead the smoker to the conclusion that he is being "short
changed." Slower burning papers are being evaluated to determine
whether they can slow down the apparent burn and not excessively
increase the delivery nor detract from the flavor. Samples are
under preparationin the Manufacturing Department.
D. Air Cured Cigarets
Interest in an air cured cigaret arose from two separate
sources as follows: (1) Animal and statistical data indicated
lower incidence of respiratory disease fromithe smoking of air
cured cigarets as compared with the smoking of flue cured or
blended cigarets. (2) A market research concept test indicated'
that the name "'Air Cured" had very favorable connotations to
consumers.
By definition, Turkish tobacco is consideredto be air
cured, however, in animal testing the results with Turkish
tobacco were comparable to flue cured. Consequently, the
advisability of using,Turkish was questioned, although it would
be permissable by definition. Maryland was acceptable from both~
points of view. An all air cured RCB would also be required.
It was concluded that Turkish~should be excluded from the
product. The RCB and stem usage should be either all burley or
burley and Maryland. All of the previous work on burley cigarets
was reviewed. The Manufacturing Department produced an air cured
RCB. Using the Parliament burley blend a series of samples were
produced in Tobacco Processing that would evaluate the contribution
of the Maryland tobacco and determine whether Turkish would have
been desirable from the flavor point of view and whether the
recently developed Turkish casing would be desirable. Several
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acids had been shown to have important effect on the smoke
flavor of all burley cigarets. Re-evaluation of the effects
of these acids was also included in this series. Smoking
evaluations of this series by Manufacturing Department and
project personnel gave the following indications:
(1) Up to 20% usage of Turkish in a burley cigaret was
not a major flavor advantage.
(2) Turkish casing makes a modest smoke flavor improvement.
(3) Maryland does not hurt.
(4) Lactic acid results in a major smoke flavor improvement.
This fourth point confirms earlier work done in Chemical
Research.
Two air cured blends were suggested by the Leaf Department,
one using 50% of the air cured RCB and the other 30%0 of that
RCB. Evaluation of the two showed the 30% blend to be more
desirable. Flavor formulation work resulted in several menthol
and non-menthol flavors for the air cured samples. A side-
stream odor problem was noted as a fact of life with air cured
tobacco. Additives that masked the sidestreamiwere easily
detected in mainstream smoke flavor and were considered to be
an equal problem. Evaluations by Manufacturing Department and
project personnel indicated that the non-menthol sample with
the Turkish casing was preferred over other available candidates.
.These cigarets were 85mm filtered~cigarets with the 30% RCB
level and'Marlboro type after cut flavors. The special casings
used include lactic acid. The menthol sample selected as the
best available was also~an 85mm filter cigaret using the 30% M-~
RCB blend, Marlboro menthol type after cut flavors with flavor Gin
4165-40 were used. These cigarets delivered about 16mg tar.
The menthol delivery (0 .6mg) . was a little high. (,l
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The non-menthol sample was booth tested against Marlboro
and the mentholated was testediagainst Lido. The Marlboro and
the Lido were the better performers as was expected. It had
been anticipated that the obvious taste characteristics of the
air cured cigarets would be detected as a departure from the
smoke flavor that is normally expected. However, the work to
date was encouraging and the interest in the air cured project
had not diminished.
A new blendlusing 20% RCB was evaluated and was recognized,
as a further improvement. Flavor 4097-76 was judgedito be help-
ful for both mainstream smoke flavor and sidestream odor. Filler
rods with this flavor, the new blend (including the lactic acid)
were combined with flush fluted, charcoal filters. The resulting
product delivered about llmg tar. The same rod combined with a
Philip Morris Multifilter filter system delivered about 14mg tar.
Both of these samples will be evaluated further in booth testing
against Tareyton andwill very probably be HTI tested. Meanwhile,
work is continuing on the development of flavors for an air cured
mentholated cigaret.
E. Novel Flavors
The continuing work to find distinctive flavors for cigarets
that will enjoy consumer acceptance and, hopefully, compensate
for some of the deficiencies in low delivery cigarets has been
given greater emphasis in the past year. Certainly menthol as
used is distinctive andenjoys growing acceptance. The anethole
flavored Saratoga has had a limited degree of acceptance. With Un
this in mind work was begun to seek flavors that could go along W
with either menthol or possibly the anethole. A long series of col
flavors was generated, some in response to specific requests.
Current popularity of lime flavors and fragrances in other consumer
products made it an item of interest. Lime, lime-menthol and
lime-anise flavors were applied to cigarets. Lime and lime-menthol
were shown t&be more promising in SEF evaluati.ons. Extended
smoking evaluations were also encouraging,. Stability studies
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indicated no major problems with rancidity, however, flavor
retention on storage appeared to be a definite consideration.
Cost of the lime flavor is also a consideration. The evalua-
tion of the market potential for lime flavor cigarets was a
definite problem. A test was devised that is intended to give
some insight into the market potential. The test attempts to
measure the acceptability of the lime concept against a standard
mentholated cigaret, and~an anethole flavored cigaret, all three
at about a 20mg TPM level. A 10mg lime-menthol model is also
tested~against a 10mg anethole flavor and~against a standard
delivery Parliament. Hopefully this procedure will give some
insight into the acceptability of the lime-menthol flavor, per se,
and the role that distinctive flavors can play in improving
the flavor of low delivery cigarets.
An orange flavor modification of the Saratoga drew very
favorable comments. However, retention was a major problem
with orange flavor. Flavor oxidation studies showed no problem
with rancidity to date. These studies are continuing.
Encapsulationof the orange flavor was evaluatedland
rejected as a solution to the retention problem~. The problem
stems from the volatility of the oil and the high terpene content.
The high terpene content makes orange and other citrus oils weak
flavors. Concentration of the oils to reduce the terpene content
and increase the oxygenated:(flavorful) components results in a
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more retentive flavor, and a much more expensive flavor on a per
pound basis. Even the folded citrus flavors require higher usage
levels than might be expected from experience with other flavor
materials. Finally, anorange flavor with satisfactory retention
and no obvious rancidity problems was developed. Shelf life
studies are a continuing part of this work. This flavor has been
filler and filter evaluated.
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