Solved and Unsolved Cases of Taste and Odor Episodes in the Files of Inspector Cluzeau

Abstract

This paper examines 72 well documented taste and odor (T&O) episodes which occurred primarily in France over a four year period. Using the dominant descriptors, these episodes are classified according to the flavor wheel. The four major odor groups encountered are, group 7 (medicinal-phenolic), group 1 (earthy-musty-moldy), group 8 (chemical-hydrocarbon-miscellaneous) and group 2 (chlorinous-ozonous) respectively at 32, 29, 24 and 10% of the 72 episodes. Episodes from groups 1 and 2 which show the highest rate of unsolved cases are then discussed in detail.