CSPA AIR CARE DEODORIZATION DEFINITIONS
(NOTE: These definitions have been developed solely for the purposes of the air care industry's marketing and testing.)

Activation Time (see Perceived Consumer Activation Time and Testing Activation Time)

Air Freshener is any product sold commercially with the intent of providing a means of enhancing the odor quality of a volume of air.

Aromatherapy prescribes the use of natural essential oils and herbs for the treatment of various mental and physical disorders. It is a concept based largely on anecdotal individual case studies and folklore.

Aroma-Chology is dedicated to the study of the inter-relationship of psychology and fragrance technology with respect to transmission through odor of a variety of specific feelings directly to the brain. It is a concept based on systematic, scientific data collected under controlled conditions.

Aroma Material is a synthetic or naturally extracted material that can impart a specific odor, malodor or scent.

Counteractant is a material, combination of materials, or process that interferes with malodor, generating a positively perceived effect.

Deodorization is a process, technique, procedure or chemical or physicochemical reaction that effectively reduces or eliminates malodors.

Essential Oil is a volatile material, derived by a physical process from odorous plant material of a single botanical form and species.

Fragrance is a substance or mixture of aroma materials, essential oils, and/or other functional components, the primary purpose of which is to impart an odor or scent, or to counteract a malodor.

Intensity of an odor is a psychological perception reflecting the perceived strength. Though totally subjective, it is associated with the local concentration of an odorant.

Malodor is an olfactory stimulant that, when detected, is considered unpleasant or undesirable by the target population.

Malodor Reduction Efficacy isthe degree to which a product, treatment or process reduces perceived malodor intensity.

Masking is the reduction or elimination of olfactory perception of a defined odor stimulus by means of another odorous substance without the physical removal or chemical alteration of the defined stimulus from the environment.

Neutralization is the process that substantially reduces or eliminates the concentration in the air of odorous substances.

Odor is a psychological perception experienced upon stimulation of receptors in the olfactory epithelium with subsequent neuronal activity providing inputs to the brain.

Odorization is the imparting of odor into the air.

Odor Detection Threshold is the lowest concentration of a substance that can be perceived by the sense of smell by a majority of a target population, often a panel.

Odor Identification Threshold is the lowest concentration of a substance that can be characterized consistently though not necessarily accurately (e.g., confusing the odor of lemon with that of lime) by a majority of a target population, often a panel. This threshold is usually higher than the Odor Detection Threshold.

Odor Intensity (see Intensity; not to be confused with the physical dimension of concentration)

Odor Recognition Threshold (See Odor Identification Threshold)

Odor Strength is the perceived intensity I to stimulus concentration c. This follows the psychophysical power law,

Perceived Consumer Activation Time is the minimum amount of time required for an individual to distinguish an odor at its lowest stimulus intensity from an odor-free situation. The individual's response indicates whether or not the presence of an odor has been perceived.

Scent is a distinctive and traceable odor given off by a source (person, animal, plant or other) that imparts a characteristic smell.

Testing Activation Time isthe length of time that a product is permitted to be exposed in a chamber prior to evaluation by panelists.