Identification of the Most Common Odours Recognizable in the South Indian Community: A Preliminary Survey
Keywords:
Olfaction, Questionnaire Survey, OdorantsAbstract
Background: There is increasing medical evidence regarding olfactory disorders as important indicators of disease. However, there is a lack of a simple olfaction testing kit suitable for the South Indian population.
Method: A questionnaire was created and distributed to a random cross-section of individuals domiciled in South India to identify commonly recognized odours. The responses were collated and analyzed.
Results: Responses were obtained from 135 individuals, yielding 651 odourants after data refinement. Jasmine and Coffee were the two most frequently recognized odourants, along with several other odours reflecting the local characteristics of the South Indian population.
Conclusions: There is a need to develop an olfaction kit using odourants that are readily recognized by the target population. This preliminary survey successfully identified a suitable set of odourants for the South Indian community.
