Luktkvalitet

Luktkvalitet, often translated as odor quality, is a sensory property used to describe the qualitative aspects of a smell. It covers the odor’s character or profile—such as fruity, floral, earthy, or sulfurous notes—and the overall impression it leaves on the observer. Odor quality is distinct from odor intensity and is influenced by the mixture of odorants, their concentrations, temperature, humidity, background odors, and individual differences in olfactory perception.

Measurement and evaluation of luktkvalitet rely on sensory analysis and instrumental approaches. Trained panels describe odors using qualitative descriptors and hedonic (pleasantness) scales. Dynamic olfactometry provides a quantitative measure of odor concentration based on detection thresholds, following standardized procedures. Gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC-O) links chemical components to odor notes by separating compounds and having a human assessor identify their perceived odors. In practice, odor quality is reported with descriptive terms and, when relevant, hedonic judgments.

Applications of luktkvalitet span environmental monitoring, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, and the food and fragrance industries. In environmental regulation, odor quality can influence nuisance assessments and emission permits, while in buildings it affects perceived air quality and comfort. In product development, odor quality helps guide formulation and quality control to achieve desired sensory profiles.

Challenges include subjectivity in perception, adaptation to odors, and variability across individuals and contexts. Standardized lexicons and measurement protocols help improve comparability and reproducibility in assessing luktkvalitet.