Sensory lab: clean scent with home care products
The first thing noticed when entering a home, whether it is one’s own or not, is the scent. In fact, fragrance is also synonymous with cleanliness, and it is interpreted as a guarantee of hygiene in the house: freshly changed sheets, house smelling of detergent, are both sensory stimulating and strongly evocative situations. Scenting is not only linked to the concept of cleanliness but creates a strong relationship with the products used every day.
How important is the link with the products used for the consumer?
It is essential! Our project managers are aware of consumer loyalty towards household products. Their familiarity with them makes them very sensitive to the perception of even the slightest changes, especially when it comes to smells!
What to do when a formula needs to be developed or modified?
Product manufacturers thoroughly study the development of new products, both from the point of view of efficacy and fragrance, analysing their impact on consumers. The same happens when a change in formulation or choice of a new raw material supplier is needed.
The Mérieux NutriSciences Sensory Department has 7 booths dedicated to the home care range, and has great experience in testing new prototypes and interpreting the extent of changes in a product. Studies can be carried out in central locations, and no longer just at home, optimising execution times and standardising test conditions to ensure the choice of the best performing prototype!
What are our dedicated sensory projects?
Our project managers have developed product preparation and evaluation protocols, standardised for several references including washing machine detergents, fabric softeners and floor cleaners. These procedures include the simulation of the different stages of use and the subsequent evaluation steps.
In our databases we have panels of judges trained in the objective evaluation of perfume and malodor intensities, as well as a database of consumers of home care products, who are selected according to their usage habits. Thanks to the involvement of both, it is possible to collect affective and performance-related responses from consumers; integrating these responses with the objective evaluation of the judges allows us to obtain all the necessary information about the product under evaluation.
Our advantages in a nutshell
- Ability to compare multiple products simultaneously
- Maximum standardization of evaluations
- Air-recirculation
- Reliability of data collected
- Ability to perform tests with trained panels of judges and/or with consumers
- Reduction in analysis time and cost
