Sensory tests

Product characteristics such as the appearance, smell, taste and skin feel are often crucial to the final buying decision. It is therefore essential to know the customer's wishes and implement the product designs accordingly. Here sensory tests play a supporting role.

Definition

In sensory tests substance properties and quality characteristics are tested and measured that are perceived through the senses. This includes the appearance, smell/fragrance, taste, skin feel, consistency and other physico-chemically mediated sensations. Here the human being and it's senses serve as the test instrument. This task requires a high level of concentration.

Essentially, sensorially tested substances are raw materials, ingredients, intermediates, semi- or end-products.

Target groups

Especially for producers in the following industries, sensory product characteristics are very important:

FIELDS OF APPLICATION

Benefits for the producers

Typical test procedure in a sensory lab

  1. Arrival of the test participants in the waiting room
  2. The test participants have a seat in the test room
  3. Coding of the neutral sample containers
  4. Even filling of the sample containers
  5. Passing the samples to the participants
  6. Staff acknowledges the handover by setting a status indicator
  7. Acceptance of the sample (under certain lighting conditions to mask colors, if needed)
  8. Processing of the sensory test and completion of the questionnaire
  9. Completion of the testing phase and return of the sample
  10. Evaluation of results and development of measures for the practice
Quicklinks

Further information:

Sensory lab

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