Flavor and fragrance company Givaudan announced the development of a new breakthrough methodology to help decode how consumers’ noses detect and recognize scent.
According to the company’s press release, this innovation helps activate previously unresponsive olfactory receptors, enhancing receptor sensitivity by up to 100x. The new methodology “unlocks” 20 specific human odor receptors and reveals which natural scent molecules they can detect.
“This process turns receptor science into a creative edge, enabling olfactory experiences that are powerful, unique and precisely crafted,” said Jeremy Compton, global head of science and technology for Givaudan’s fragrance division. “This pioneering research marks a turning point where smell science becomes a direct creative advantage, allowing Givaudan to lead the way in impactful, distinctive and targeted fragrances that stand out in the market.”
With this new innovation, Givaudan’s officials hope to accurately pinpoint which odor molecules fit which receptor in the human olfactory system, thus creating more targeted scents.
“For the first time, we have been able to match specific human odor receptors to the natural scents they detect, revealing that in some cases a single receptor is enough to signal a complex odor to the brain,” explained Agnes Bombrun, head of ingredient research. “This insight rewrites what we know about olfaction, making possible the recreation of mature’s most recognizable notes with perfect fidelity, and to imagine entirely new molecules and formulations.”
