scope:

The polarity profile method is used exclusively for the hedonic classification of facility odours. The odour emitted by a facility can be assessed as "hedonically definitely pleasant" if the evaluation reveals that the facility odour can be definitely described as a "fragrance". Experience shows that such odours occur at very few facilities.

If different odour qualities arise at different parts of a facility, a hedonic assessment has to be performed for each odour quality. In certain cases, it is possible that a hedonically definitely pleasant odour is emitted by only certain parts of the facility or during the manufacture of certain products. Odour qualities that change with distance require special attention.

The hedonic assessment of odours and the application of polarity profiles need to be practised beforehand on real odours with different degrees of pleasantness/unpleasantness. This way, panel members can gain confidence in using the profile scale and also train their verbal assessment of odour impressions.