Brief evaluation of pleasantness of olfactory and trigeminal stimulants.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a brief olfactory test based on pleasantness rating of olfactory and trigeminal stimulants.

DESIGN

Criterion standard.

SETTING

University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 60 participants (48 healthy and 12 with olfactory loss) aged 16 to 81 years.

INTERVENTIONS: The new test of odor pleasantness (TOP) based on classification of odorants and trigeminal stimulants into 4 categories was compared with 2 standard tests of subjective olfactometry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We evaluated the possible use of the TOP in assessment of olfactory and the trigeminal system in healthy individuals and those with olfactory loss.

RESULTS

All 3 tests demonstrated significant mutual correlation (P < .01), and persons with olfactory loss scored lower than healthy participants (P < .01). Using exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis, we found that healthy individuals classified odorants accurately according to the degree of their hedonic character.

CONCLUSION

The TOP offers outcomes similar to those of standard tests of olfaction that are based on psychophysical testing.