Skip to content

SENSORY SCIENCE

Incredible Flavor Begins with Sensory Analysis

Tools to incorporate sensory science into your process.

Why Sensory Science Matters

No piece of equipment is as sensitive to aromatic nuance as the human nose or as adept at recalling a flavor note as the human brain. That's why sensory science drives our formulation and why we're working to create a sensory lexicon for the cannabis industry. Here are a few ways you can leverage sensory science to inspire product development and grow your business.

  • Identify the elements of each strain's unique flavor profile

  • Establish touchstones of aroma and flavor for your team and customer base

  • Detect faults in flower and other applications

  • Perform a QA check at each stage of production

Exploring sensory in the hemp field

True Terpenes Aroma Wheel

From product development to quality control, the True Terpenes Aroma Wheel is one of our most valuable tools. Download the wheel to empower your own creativity and process.

Sensory Notes

Flavor and aroma descriptors to help dial in your analysis and inform your product development.

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Fruity

Fruit

Citrus, Pome Fruit, Stone Fruit, Melon, Tropical, Berry, Artificial Fruit, Grape

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Floral

Floral

Orange Blossom, Violet, Lilac, Lavender, Rose, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Powder, Geranium

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Spice

Spice

Coriander Seed, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Mace, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Cumin, Black Pepper, Frankincense, Anise/Fennel/Licorice

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Sweet

Sweet

Caramel, Molasses, Maple Syrup, Honey, Vanilla, Sweet Cream

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Woody-1

Woody

Cedar, Spruce, Oak, Sandalwood, Damp Wood, Sawdust

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Earthy

Earthy

Soil, Forest Floor, Manure, Compost, Dusty, Truffle, Mushroom, Chalky/Mineral, Musty

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Gas

Gas

Rubber, Skunk, Sulfur, Diesel, Petrol, Engine Oil, Onion, Garlic

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Funky

Funky

Cheesy, Buttery, Yeasty, Sweaty, Horse Blanket, Vegetal Rot, Animalic Rot, Ammonia

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Heabaceous

Herbaceous

Sage, Rosemary, Pine Needle, Minty, Basil, Cilantro, Vegetal, Hay, Cut Grass

WebIcons_23009b_5-18-Solvent-1

Solvent

Menthol, Plastic, Acetone, Paint Thinner, Duct Tape, Lacquer

How we perform sensory analysis

Build your library of sense memory and power of recall. All it takes is a little practice. Not sure if something lines up? Compare to a real-life sample. Grab a lemon from the fridge, pick some grass from the yard, or step down into the basement for some mustiness.

sensory-analysis-of-flower-v2

Sensory analysis of flower

Snap the flower in your fingers and allow some volatiles to disperse. Waft (or inhale closely if the scent is faint) until you have a sense of the front, middle, and back notes.

sensory-test-strips-v2

Sensory analysis of terpenes

When performing sensory analysis on aromatic liquids like terpenes, don't smell directly from the bottle. Instead, dip or drip a small amount of liquid onto a test strip. Waft the strip from various distances until you've gotten a complete picture, then label the strip with the name of the sample.

sensory-aroma-wheel-v2

Using the Aroma Wheel

With the aroma fresh on your mind, check the Aroma Wheel. Start from the inner ring, where you'll find the most general categories like Fruit, Gas, or Floral. Work your way to the outside of the wheel, looking for the elements that resonate with your experience. Keep the sample close by in case you need to take another sniff to narrow in on the aroma.

Sensory Team

Experts in the field of Sensory Science collaborate with industry innovators in our unique sensory-driven approach to formulation and product development.

Vaishnavi_Trivedi_sensory

Vaishnavi

Head of Product Design & Applications

True Terpenes Team Member Drew Hull

Drew

Head of Regulatory Affairs & Product Innovation

Lance_Green_PD

Lance

Director, Product Development

True Terpenes Team Member Darius Bonds

Darius

Director, Manufacturing Operations

Megan Hatch

Megan

Lead Formulation Chemist

Find that feeling.

Empower your creativity with flavors that are true to experience.

Ready to launch the best tasting products on the market?

Reach out to our team to get started today.

Get 20% Off

Your First Order

Enter your email to get a 20% off coupon code and sign up to receive updates on new product launches and promotions.

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get 20% Off

Your First Order

Enter your email to get a 20% off coupon code and sign up to receive updates on new product launches and promotions.

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Your Cart
My cart
Only $100.00 away from free shipping. US only!
Your cart is empty.

Looks like you haven't made a choice yet.