A triggerable composition for two-stage, controlled release of a functional active chemical includes a trigonelline ester of a functional active with at least one hydroxyl group configured to release the functional active through a hydrolysis reaction upon contact with an aqueous medium, and an encapsulation material for encapsulating the trigonelline ester including a functional active, the encapsulation material triggerable to release the trigonelline ester upon the occurrence of an environmental stimulus. In other aspects, a viscous liquid or an absorbent article includes a triggerable composition for two-stage, controlled release of a functional active chemical, the composition including a trigonelline ester of a functional active with at least one hydroxyl group configured to release the functional active through a hydrolysis reaction upon contact with an aqueous medium, and an encapsulation material for encapsulating the trigonelline ester including a functional active.