Case studies

Odour analysis in practice.

Anonymised examples of how odour data has been turned into commercial outcomes.

CASE / 01

Identifying an intermittent odour in a food processing facility

Food & Beverage

Client problem: An intermittent off-note appeared in product downstream of a packaging line; QA could not localise the source.
Method: Targeted sampling at six points along the line over three shifts; volatile compound profiling and time-stamped comparison.
Findings: A specific solvent signature appeared during cleaning cycle changeovers, traced to a residual lubricant.
Business benefit: Source eliminated within two weeks; recurrence of customer complaints stopped.
Recommendation: Adjusted sanitation protocol and added monthly verification sampling.

CASE / 02

Fragrance

Client problem: A consumer brand observed inconsistent top notes across production batches of a flagship product.
Method: Profiling of ten consecutive batches against the gold-standard reference; statistical comparison of key markers.
Findings: Two batches showed elevated levels of an oxidised aldehyde linked to a single raw-material lot.
Business benefit: Supplier QC tightened; batch rejections reduced and shelf-life predictability improved.
Recommendation: Introduced incoming-material screening for the flagged compound.

CASE / 03

Commercial Property

Client problem: Recurring complaints from neighbouring residents about an unidentified smell from a mixed-use building.
Method: Boundary sampling under varying weather conditions; cross-reference against on-site tenant operations.
Findings: Odour traced to a single extraction outlet during specific operating hours.
Business benefit: Resolution agreed with the tenant; complaints ceased; relationship with the local authority improved.
Recommendation: Schedule change plus filter upgrade on the relevant extraction.

CASE / 04

Product Development

Client problem: An R&D team needed objective comparison between candidate formulations and a benchmark.
Method: Blind profiling of candidate samples against benchmark; comparative analysis of marker compounds.
Findings: Two of five candidates closely matched the benchmark; one outperformed on stability.
Business benefit: Reduced time-to-decision; clearer brief to the formulation team.
Recommendation: Progress the higher-stability candidate to consumer testing.

CASE / 05

Manufacturing

Client problem: Operators suspected a slow process drift but had no quantitative early-warning signal.
Method: Periodic odour readings tied to operating parameters over six weeks.
Findings: A characteristic shift in the volatile profile preceded out-of-spec output by 36–48 hours.
Business benefit: Early-warning indicator now used for proactive maintenance scheduling.
Recommendation: Embed odour reading into routine process monitoring dashboards.