The mechanism of softening effect for fabric softeners has been explained as lowering of friction between the fibers. This explanation, however, has not been verified, yet. The trend date of B-value of KES-FB2 and the result of perfect drying cotton threads indicate that the increase of hardness of cotton threads after the process of wetting by water and drying is caused by the cross-linking by the bound water between the cotton fibers. Thus, the softening effect of fabric softeners can mainly be discussed as the prevention of the formation of this cross-linkage.

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This manuscript reviews the recent studies in the characterization of the adsorption feature of surfactant type fabric softener on the surfaces of textile fibers. The surfactant type fabric softeners work by coating the surfaces of the textile fibers with very thin film, which have lubricant properties and electrical conductivity. The double-chain cationic surfactant (dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride ; DODAC), is mainly used as the softener. The morphology of the “thin-film = DODAC aggregates” adsorbed on a hydrophilic surface were investigated by electron and scanning probe microscopy. An aqueous DODAC dispersion contain multilayer / unilamellar vesicles, and are partly adsorbed on the hydrophilic surface.
From the SPM measurement, the thickness of unilamellar vesicles after drying was 4 nm. Interior water of the vesicles was eliminated by drying, and the closed-shell structure collapsed. And this may have caused the bilayer to take on an interdigitated structure. The information about DODAC molecules would not form monolayers on a hydrophilic surface, but are adsorbed as vesicles.

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In recent years, the Japanese fabric softener market has been expanding steadily. The softness has been an important function of fabric softener, but “the Scent” attracts a lot of attention as the leading feature of today’s products.
To satisfy consumer’s expectations, the long-lasting ability is very important in addition to preference.
In this report, technical approaches to remain the good scent on clothes effectively, psychological and physiological effect by scent are introduced.

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Phospholipid (PL) is an essential ingredient which achieves membrane formation of a cell or an organelle, and signaling molecule.
On intercellular and intracellular, the signaling molecules of PL origin are the PL molecular species itself, the hydrolyzed products by phospholipaseA(PLA_{1, 2}), phospholipaseC(PLC), phospholipaseD(PLD), and those metabolic products.
PL, especially specific phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecular species is recognized by the nuclear receptor. So, when these PC molecular species activate a transcription factor, making a target gene reveal and promoting a lipid metabolism improvement is suggested.
The hydrolysis by the PLA_{1, 2} of PL produces an equivalent amount of lysoPL(LPL) and fatty acid or polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA). This PUFA contains arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), etc. About LPL, lysoPC(LPC) and the lysophosphatidyserine which has an immunity related action, etc. were contained. On PUFA , AA cascade domain was created from AA, and, as for EPA, an eicosanoid domain and DHA have extended the docosanoid domain. About hydrolysis by PLC of PL, phosphatidylinositol is the main objects, and the cleavage product produces protein kinaseC activation diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate which carry out calcium ion release from smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The PLD function to PL has a phosphodiesterases(PDE) function and a base exchange function. The former produced the protein activation phosphatidic acid and a base choline(Cho), serine and ethanolamine etc. The latter is producing the phosphatidylserine(PS) from PC or phosphatidylethanolamine in a central domain, and the PS is participating in signaling of neural membrane. Secretory lysoPLD hydrolyzes LPC into LPA and Cho. It was identified that is the autotaxin of a cellular motility stimulation factor. Controlling Cho metabolism by the thing for which new Cho content PL specific PDE hydrolyzes LPC and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) into phoshoCho was found out. As for GPC, existence is observed also in semen, a testis, and the kidney abundantly as a Cho source of supply in mother’s milk. Promotion of growth hormone secretion, an impaired liver function improvement, etc. are known, and the relation of GPC with the osmotic adjustment action by the kidney or a spermary is deep.

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