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Study on the organoleptic intensity scale for measuring oral malodor

Duffield, J.; Spencer, P.; Greenman, John; Corry, David; Rosenberg, M.; Saad, S.; Lenton, P.; Majerus, G.; Nachnani, S.; El-Maaytah, M.

Authors

J. Duffield

P. Spencer

David Corry

M. Rosenberg

S. Saad

P. Lenton

G. Majerus

S. Nachnani

M. El-Maaytah



Abstract

The 0-5 organoleptic scale is used widely in breath research and in trials to measure the efficacy of anti-odor agents. However, the precise relationship between odor scores and gas concentrations of target odorants is unknown. The purpose of this study was to relate mean organoleptic scores from odor judges (n = 7) for pure odorants (n = 8) representative of those found in oral malodor. Judges used a common 0-5 scale to report the odor intensity of sample sets in random order of concentration. Regression analysis of data showed that odor score was proportional to the log concentration of odorant, and comparison of slopes showed H2S to be the most significant in terms of odor power. Detection thresholds (mol.dm-3) were: Skatole (7.2 × 10 -13) < methylmercaptan (1.0 × 10-11) < trimethylamine (1.8 × 10-11) < isovalerate (1.8 × 10-11) < butyrate (2.3 × 10-10) < hydrogen sulphide (6.4 × 10-10) < putrescine (9.1 × 10 -10) < dimethyl disulphide (5.9 × 10-8). The study demonstrates the exponential nature of the olfactory response and shows that any single compound's contribution to malodor depends on odor power and threshold in addition to concentration.

Citation

Spencer, P., Duffield, J., Greenman, J., Rosenberg, M., Corry, D., Saad, S., …El-Maaytah, M. (2004). Study on the organoleptic intensity scale for measuring oral malodor. Journal of Dental Research, 83(1), 81-85. https://doi.org/10.1177/154405910408300116

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2004
Journal Journal of Dental Research
Print ISSN 0022-0345
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 83
Issue 1
Pages 81-85
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/154405910408300116
Keywords oral malodor, organoleptic intensity scale, volatile compounds (VCs), volatile sulphur componds (VSCs), odor judges
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1062536
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/154405910408300116