Presentation Details
| Standardizing a Universal Scale for Odor Intensity Robert Pellegrino1, Khristina Samoilova2, Matthew Andres1, Christiane Delano1, Richard G.Gerkin3, 4, Alexei Koulakov2, Joel D.Mainland1, 5. 1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.2Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.3School of Life Sciences and School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.4Osmo Labs, Cambridge, MA, USA.5Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA |
Abstract
In vision and hearing, standardized units such as lumens and decibels allow consistent quantification of stimulus intensity, enabling precise control of sensory experiences. Olfaction, by contrast, lacks a robust quantitative framework for odor intensity, complicating efforts to accurately characterize and compare aromas across laboratories. To bridge this gap, we used a precisely controlled odor delivery system to estimate the concentration-intensity function and Weber fraction (normalized just-noticeable-difference) of the ASTM standard odorant, n-butanol. Using this information, we built a universal scale for odor intensity. We demonstrate its utility by mapping synthesized and natural odors on to this common metric. Using a larger dataset (N = 62 odorants), we further show that panels can easily calibrate to the scale using a simple linear transformation. This universal odor scale provides standardizes units to compare odor intensity across laboratories and offers a regulatory foundation for odor-related policies, including smell pollution control.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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