nonflavorrelated

Nonflavorrelated is an adjective used to describe data, attributes, or phenomena that are not directly associated with flavor perception. In sensory science and related fields, it refers to attributes such as appearance, packaging, branding, price, convenience, nutrition labeling, and other extrinsic cues that may influence consumer evaluation independently of taste, aroma, and mouthfeel.

In practice, nonflavorrelated attributes are distinguished from flavor-related attributes to help researchers isolate the effects of taste and aroma on overall liking. Experimental designs may attempt to control or randomize nonflavorrelated factors, or explicitly study their impact alongside flavor attributes. In marketing and product development, nonflavorrelated cues can significantly affect purchase decisions even when flavor remains constant.

Usage and boundaries of the term are context-dependent. Some attributes, like texture or aftertaste, can be considered flavor-related in certain studies and nonflavor-related in others, depending on the research question or industry convention. The term is common in contemporary industry reports and academic discussions as a way to categorize influences on consumer perception that are not about taste.

See also: extrinsic cues, sensory analysis, consumer perception, gustatory science.