Olfactometers are devices used to measure smell and come in two types: one detects odors at various concentrations and the other measures a person’s sense of smell. They are used in perfumery, quality control, and as alarms in dangerous environments. They are also used in clinical settings to diagnose medical problems related to smell. Olfactometers are expensive and require periodic maintenance.
An olfactometer is a device that, as you might guess from the name, is involved in measuring smell. There are two different types of olfactometers. One acts as a sort of artificial nose that is capable of detecting odors at various concentrations, including concentrations so low that the human nose cannot detect them. The other is a device designed to measure how acute someone’s sense of smell is, typically for use in a clinical setting.
Olfactometers in the sense of artificial noses are used in a number of settings. They are classic handheld devices, with small filter pads through which the air is passed. When odorous compounds are detected, the device can trigger an alarm or provide a reading. Often, the sensitivity can be adjusted for different settings and it may even be possible to sensitize the device to specific types of odors.
One environment where olfactometers are used is perfumery, where odors are analyzed with the assistance of such a device, and these devices are also used for quality consistency. They can also be used as alarms, as some odorous compounds are dangerous to human health; for example, modified olfactometers can be placed in chemical plants and mines to detect dangerous gas releases. An interesting experimental use of the olfactometer is in forensics, where some researchers have explored the idea of using such devices to “sniff” chemicals associated with the decay process to learn more about when someone died.
Another use of the olfactometer is in research studies or the clinical setting, where it can be a useful diagnostic tool for testing acuity when it comes to smell. Having an impaired sense of smell can be a sign of a medical problem such as a tumor or it can be associated with a congenital condition. Using an olfactometer, a doctor can isolate the problem and determine its severity. For example, a patient may be able to smell some things but not others, may misinterpret odors, may smell things when no odor-producing compound is present, and so on. This information can be valuable to have.
Olfactometers tend to be quite expensive. They are very sensitive and delicate instruments, and it is also necessary to periodically replace filters and attachments to keep the device in good working order. Scientific societies can provide them to order, and people can also order them from diagnostic equipment manufacturers.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
