Implementing the Drinking Water Taste‐and‐Odor Wheel to Improve the Consumer Lexicon. Issue 11 (1st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phetxumphou, Katherine; Raghuraman, Aarathi; Dietrich, Andrea M.
• Is Part Of: Journal ‐ American Water Works Association. Volume 109:Issue 11(2017)
• Page Start: E453
• Page End: E463
• Publication Date: 2017-11-01
• Subjects: consumers -- drinking water -- lexicon -- odor -- taste; Odor -- Taste -- Geosmin -- Testing; Water-supply -- United States -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering -- United States -- Periodicals; 363.61097305
• DOI: 10.5942/jawwa.2017.109.0122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-150X

Abstract

Abstract : Flavor lexicons and associated taste‐and‐odor (T&O) wheels are professionally recognized descriptors for beverage sensory qualities that can also be used by consumers. Human subject responses to known odorants were evaluated before and after instruction on using the Drinking Water T&O Wheel (T&O Wheel) lexicon. Fifty‐one naïve human subjects separately sniffed and recorded descriptors for 2‐methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin, orange extract, and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS). Two months later, subjects were instructed in using the T&O Wheel before sniffing and describing these odorants for a second time. McNemar's test was applied to statistically assess the number of correct answers pre‐ and post‐instruction. Instructed subjects showed significant improvements in correct descriptors for MIB, geosmin, and orange. Instruction increased accuracy of describing DMTS but was not significant. The T&O wheel was reported to be helpful in identifying odorants, and 92% of study subjects preferred to have the T&O wheel when identifying their drinking water odors.