A model fragrance, vanillin, was encapsulated into ethylcellulose using an oil-in-water solvent evaporation method to prepare biodegradable microcapsules that can sustain the release of the model agent and potentially be bound to textile material. This study examined the effect of vanillin and polymer concentrations on the encapsulation efficiency, vanillin content and size of microcapsules. Microcapsules were dip-coated by chitosan, and the coating was crosslinked with non-toxic 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid. The release of vanillin from the uncoated and coated capsules was examined in air at elevated temperature. The experiments showed that ethylcellulose could efficiently sustain the delivery of vanillin, and additional chitosan layer increased the release of the model fragrance.