Testing Aroma and Taste Perception

Our perception of how something tastes is actually a combination of flavor, aroma and texture. But aromas not only enhance flavor, they can also enhance mood. Scientists as early as the 1920s noticed mood-enhancing effects from aromas such as cinnamon and clove. Then in 2005 two scientists presented psycho-physical, neuro-imaging and neurophysiological studies showing that odor and taste are indeed "functionally united [while] anatomically separated."

In an article on Food Processing.com, Jeffrey Kondo, vice president of product innovation for Dairy Management Inc./DMI, tells us that"Sensory analysis is a critical step in innovation to give consumers the products they want, where, when and how they want them". DMI supports a pilot sensory lab at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.

"There are many modern instruments designed for sensory analysis, but nothing matches the human instrument for its complexity, intensity and sophistication of detection,” explains MaryAnne Drake, an Associate Professor of Sensory and Flavor Chemistry in the University’s Department of Food Science. “Sensory research is critical. Knowledge of consumer desires and perceptions and the sensory properties of existing competitor products can influence the breadth, depth and success of a product line."

"The key for companies considering sensory testing is, what specific questions are you trying to answer? Do you want to understand the impact of substituting a new ingredient? Would you like to know how your product stacks up against a competitor’s products? Different questions require different kinds of sensory testing, different objectives and different timelines," Drake adds.

Aroma and taste are inseparable qualities of food. You cannot ignore one while relying on the other to sell your product. Knowing that the most sophisticated instrument for detecting aromas is the human nose, and ultimately the customers we want to please are the very same humans, sensory research makes complete sense as an investment for your food business.