Olfactometry

Science of the measurement of the odors

An odor is characterized mainly by a quantitative criterion expressing its force, its intensity; a qualitative criterion allowing its description compared to odorous objects, like a spice or a flower and a temporal criterion describing with the wire of time the variation of its intensity and its quality.

A Nose

The first scientific method allowing these measurements is the use of a Nez which is a person knowing of the thousands of scents and able to analyze the fragrance (olfactive feeling) of a product and to attest quality of it. In Perfumery, a Nose is in charge of the preparation of the mixtures of gasolines necessary to the creation of a perfume.

The French and international regulation is in particular based to the measure of the concentration of odors to the emission carried out thanks to an olfactometer. The concentration of the odor is then expressed in European Unit of Odors per cubic meter of air (oue/m3). In France, the laboratory of olfactometry EOG - Group GED is accredited for the realization of this type of olfactometric measurements on odorous samples of air. In Germany, one can also quote laboratory ECOMA.

Artificial noses

A " nose artificiel" is an apparatus made up of sensors sensitive to such or such chemical compound, one indicates it by the term of olfactometer or electronic Nez (English: e-nose ).

" nose artificiels" current of course qualities of the human nose do not offer. They are practically unable to describe a new odor, but it is possible for them to detect a difference between the odor of a reference sample and a given taking away.

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