AROMATHERAPEUTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF COTTON FABRICS TREATED WITH ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL

The paper targets the production of textile fabrics with aromatic and antimicrobial properties by applying a chitosan film containing rosemary essential oil, at the surface level. The release in time of the essential rosemary oil was confirmed by colour and odour qualitative tests. The mechanical and comfort indices were also determined (rigidity, hydrophilic and hygroscopic characteristics), as well as the antibacterial properties. Another objective of the paper is to establish the kinetic model for the controlled release of the essential oil mechanism.