Microencapsulated Essential Oil Blends as Natural Antimicrobial Agent for Jute Feminine Hygiene Products

ABSTRACT Feminine hygiene products made of natural fibers offer a health‐conscious alternative to the adverse effects of synthetic sanitary products on women's health and the environment. However, sanitary napkins, rags, or cloth composed of natural materials are prone to deadly pathogen growth and decomposition if not properly treated or maintained. In this article, we report a blend of essential oils consisting of lavender, tea tree, ylang–ylang, bergamot, rose, and sandalwood with odor profiles such as fresh, floral, aromatic, and woody notes with antimicrobial effects for a single‐use application on feminine hygiene products. Microencapsulation of the blend into β‐cyclodextrin‐grafted chitosan (β‐CD‐g‐CS) was obtained by combining emulsification (O/W) and freeze‐drying methods. Emulsification in the presence of Tween 80 afforded a greater number of spherical microcapsules of average size 4.35 μm with 70.78% encapsulation efficiency. TGA revealed that the Tween 80 assisted perfume‐encapsulated microcapsules exhibited very high heat resistance (157°C). When an aqueous suspension of the blend‐encapsulated microcapsules was applied to the jute pulp, it exhibited > 98% antimicrobial growth against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi. Therefore, incorporating microencapsulated essential oil blends as natural antibacterial agents can be an effective approach to promote healthier menstrual hygiene management.