Posted at 04 April 2018

Seeing a pet enjoy a meal is one of the special pleasures of pet ownership. However, unpleasant pet food odors can reduce the owner’s appreciation of the pet’s meal experience. 

But what is the definition of a good smell? What are the odors that trigger the most positive emotions in pet parents? A comprehensive sensory approach of pet food smell can bring the beginnings of an answer to pet food manufacturers wishing to improve the smell of their products. 

Thanks to innovative tools, it is now possible to objectively describe the odor of pet food and to map products in the global market olfactory landscape. Determining which pet food odors are typically associated with high preferences and connecting them with specific emotions can allow pet food manufacturers to achieve a specific target smell. In turn, that will enhance a pet parent’s experience of the pet’s meal, thus establishing a strong, positive brand image.