An Olfactometer for Rapid and Critical Odor Measurement

Abstract

SUMMARY An olfactometer is described that will deliver calculated amounts of odor to subjects in a rapid and reproducible manner. It was found that sparging air through a test liquid will saturate the air at the vapor pressure of the liquid. Sensitivities, for a panel, were determined at two levels of acetic acid concentrations; they were 0.939 deviates per mg (× 10 −5 ) per L for a concentration of 1.90 × 10 −5 mg per L, and 0.587 deviates per mg (× 10 −5 ) per L for a concentration of 3.37 × 10 −5 mg per L. Some modifications of the olfactometer are suggested and discussed.