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Masking of Several Olfactory Notes by Infra-threshold Concentrations of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole

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Chemosensory Perception

Abstract

Introduction

Among wine defects, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole has a specific impact on wine perception. In addition to giving to the wine an unpleasant odor, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole has a masking effect on notes. In this study, the specificity and efficacy of the masking effect of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole was tested at infra- and supra-threshold concentrations. A simplified model of a binary mixture was also studied for in-depth analysis of this phenomenon.

Methods

Techniques used included sensory analysis (odor profiling), psychophysical tests (threshold measurement and triangle test), chemical analyses (GC-MS), and a mono/dichorhinic stimulation paradigm, to test the hypothesis of peripheral interaction.

Results

The results revealed that TCA had a masking effect on a range of aromatic notes, even at infra-threshold concentrations. However, they also showed counteraction of odorant specificity by 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. The origin of this masking effect was also discussed. The results suggested that this interaction can be assumed to take place at receptor level.

Conclusion

This study provided experimental confirmation of the widespread idea that constituents in non-perceptible concentrations influence the perceived quality of mixtures of odorous compounds.

Implications

Moreover, this type of olfactory model may improve our understanding of combinatorial olfactory encoding at the peripheral level.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux for their financial support, as well as the wine tasters (from SCL33, Pessac, 33, France and Quali-Bordeaux, Beychac, 33, France) for their enthusiastic participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Bordeaux, ISVV, EA 4577 OEnologie, F-33140, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    S. Tempere, M. H. Schaaper, E. Cuzange & G. de Revel

  2. INRA, ISVV, USC 1366 OEnologie, F-33140, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    S. Tempere, M. H. Schaaper, E. Cuzange & G. de Revel

  3. Quali-Bordeaux, 2, avenue des Tabernottes, 33370, Artigues, France

    E. Cuzange

  4. Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7259, Marseille, France

    G. Sicard

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  1. S. Tempere
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Correspondence to S. Tempere.

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Tempere, S., Schaaper, M.H., Cuzange, E. et al. Masking of Several Olfactory Notes by Infra-threshold Concentrations of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole. Chem. Percept. 10, 69–80 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12078-017-9227-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12078-017-9227-5

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