Odour measurement equipment and technologies
Equipment for odour laboratories and emission testing
As a manufacturer of olfactometers, VOC emission test chambers, sampling equipment and software, we do everything we can to measure odours and VOCs in a more reliable and user-friendly way. Our complete solutions are field-tested in a variety of environments and optimally matched to each other. We are the only manufacturer, accredited testing laboratory and service provider for odour measurements in one. This is how we help you and your clients to become better. Day after day. Since 1996, worldwide. We do this through
- quick analysis processes
- immediate, tangible results
- measurement procedures conforming to standards and ready for accreditation
- optimised interfaces between human being and machine
- mobile application possibilities
- ergonomic designs
- and reliable support
Trust in the reliability and user know-how of the worldwide market leader!
Olfasense odour measurement equipment and techologies are solutions from users for users. Our expertise: More than 400 users of our technology worldwide, including research institutes, universities, odour laboratories and companies. Our claim: Maximum functionality, reliability and continuous development of odour measurement procedures and methods for
- equipping odour laboratories
- improved panel selection
- expansion of the scope
- accreditation and notification
Take advantage of the best odour measurement devices and technologies – worldwide
Olfactometers
Odour measurement equipment for direct and comparative evaluation
Sampling equipment
Software products
Ion mobility spectrometry instruments
Odour laboratory accessories
Characterize VOCs under precise test conditions with our highly accurate and affordable standardized solutions
Single VOC emission test chambers
Multi VOC test chamber system
Customised chambers & accessories
Sniffing sticks & reference material
Sniffing sticks for panel selection
Sniffing sticks for odour characterisation
Sniffing sticks for odour intensity training
Customised sniffing sticks sets
VDA 270 training kits
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Client feedback
AIMPLAS decided to purchase the Olfasense emissions chamber because of its professionalism, its proximity and, above all, the knowledge it demonstrated of the requirements of automotive standards. Something very important for us. During the installation of the equipment, Olfasense helped the AIMPLAS staff to understand everything that is necessary for the correct functioning of the chamber, demonstrating once again their professionalism. Without a doubt, it was a good choice.
Nuria García Batista, PhD.; Chemical Laboratory – Identification; AIMPLAS
For iLF Magdeburg GmbH, customer service comes first. We expect the same from our suppliers. In our view, Olfasense fulfills this in a first-class manner. The support and advice as well as the reliability of the Olfasense emission chambers are the decisive factors for us, which we will continue to rely on in future projects.
Dr. Ute Holzhausen, Head Materials Analysis at iLF Magdeburg GmbH
FORCE Technology has worked with olfactometry for 30 years, and for the last two years used a TO8 Olfactometer from Olfasense as our only olfactometer. We are very satisfied with the function of the TO8, which is easy to handle and have good report facilities.
Arne Oxböl, Project engineer at FORCE Technology
From SGS we want to congratulate Olfasense on the quality of its equipment and thank the technical support for the development of our odour test service. Its constant support over more than 10 years of collaboration has been a key aspect to position ourselves as a reference laboratory in Spain and offer the maximum guarantees to our customers. Relying on Olfasense is a sign of having quality equipment and exceptional staff.
SGS Tecnos, S.A.U.; Laboratorio de Olfatometría
Our experience with Olfasense has been very pleasant from the beginning. We have been fully trusting their advice and equipment to measure odours for 5 years. Their TO8 evolution olfactometer was perfectly adapted to our ISO 17025: 2017 management system, improving the quality of the results of our laboratory located in Chile.
Miguel Gatica, Deputy Manager Odour Engineering; Proterm S.A.
The course content was excellent. We covered all issues on the EN 13725 and a lot of the VDI 3880. However, the differentiating factor, undoubtedly, was Marc. Besides being completely flexible, and very, very patient, (despite being bombarded with questions!), the sharing of his practical experience both in the field and in the lab was what made the trip worthwhile. Marc’s commitment to customer satisfaction and follow-up were further confirmed by his making himself available for a session or two via Zoom if and when we have any queries in the coming months. After the training, we feel fully equipped to carry out odour monitoring to the EN 13725 Standard, while also incorporating the VDI 3880. Olfasense proved to be the optimal choice for their commitment to results, experience, and after-sales service and follow-up.
Ronan O’Mhaoinigh, University College Dublin
Very professional staff, quick and precise answers, and quality equipment that meets our needs. An excellent partner for our company’s activities.
Giovanna Turturro, Lenviros srl
We hereby would like to express our sincere gratitude to Olfasense GmbH for their contribution and overall provided assistance, continuous effort and technical guidance & expertise in the process of extending the scope of our EN 17025:2017 laboratory to odour concentration determination by Dynamic Olfactometry, according to EN 13725:2022 standard, with excellent results. We were lucky to get our hands on superior quality products, receive extensive training programs and compete in proficiency testing while feeling a part of a big family. The professionalism and supportive mentality of Olfasense GmbH made this quest an enjoyable and easy-going experience that will drive us through the future with confidence and passion for what is coming!
Apostolos Angelis, Head of Olfactometry Dpt. at ENVIROMETRICS S.A.
The TO evolution olfactometer and the services offered by Olfasense for the maintenance and calibration of this equipment enable us to offer our customers a high quality service (accuracy, repeatability and speed of analysis) to the highest international standards. We particularly appreciated the possibility of shipping Olfasense our dilution unit for the annual accredited calibration. By planning this operation, it did not affect the productivity of the laboratory. We have had the pleasure to obtain our accreditation according to ISO 17025 with our new equipment which has met all the expectations of the evaluators of the BELAC (design, calibration, data protection, stability, precision, reliability …).
Loïc Raymond, Technical Manager for odours and gas chemistry at Odometric
We have been using Olfasense’s emission test chambers since market launch and we are very satisfied with both the product and the service. In our recent ISO 17025 accreditation audit, the installed emission test chambers have been successfully approved by the German accreditation body DAkkS, and are now included under the accreditation scope of Hohenstein Textile Testing Institute.
Rainer Fusenig, Assistant Head of Laboratory, Hohenstein Textile Testing Institute
DSM Coating Resins makes products used in paints and lacquers, and is driven to low VOC emissions. For our VOC measurements, we have been using Olfasense’s EK250 emission test chamber for half a year now. We are very content with both the installation and the service of Olfasense. The EK250 is robust and easy in use and it meets our expectations as we are now fully compliant with the ISO 16000-9 standard.
Diane de Bruijne, R&D associate scientist, DSM Coating Resins
We would like to thank the Olfasense team for their help, advice and trainings from the beginning of foundation of our odour laboratory up to now. The whole process was simple and trouble-free, resulting in having an effectively functioning odour laboratory. Thanks for the excellent and fast service and I look forward to working with Olfasense for the foreseeable future.
Algirdas Keblas, National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory
Odournet UK Ltd purchased two TO evolution olfactometers in 2015 and 2016, from Olfasense GmbH. Olfasense have provided a great service, with efficient supply and installation of our olfactometers and knowledgeable, friendly support whenever we’ve needed it. We were quickly able to integrate these olfactometers into our long-standing UKAS accreditation. We have always been very confident in this technology, but have recently received the results of the worldwide interlaboratory comparison that we participated in, earlier in 2016, and are exceptionally happy with our achievement using the TO evolution olfactometers. We were within the top 3 places, for accuracy, out of 36 participating similar odour labs!
Lucy Sutton, Quality Manager at Odournet UK Ltd
We have used Olfasense for service and calibration twice and appreciate the fast and reliabte service. Our olfactometer was out of service for only six days. lt was easy to arrange with Olfasense calibration department. We have a good contact with Olfasense’s technicians and get quick answers, when we have technical questions.
Arne Oxböl, Project engineer at FORCE Technology
Olfasense has provided training in the use of their olfactometer and calibration of the equipment, allowing optimal equipment performance and reliable measurement results.
Sayda Almendra Marmolejo Correa, CIATEC A.C.
Olfasense has provided technical support since 2000, including training, equipment calibration and technical advice. This has allowed us to apply olfactometry in the central region of Mexico to develop odour maps in cities with these problems, identifying the sources that cause them, the existing odour concentration and impact on the population, which has allowed to implement corrective measures.
Sayda Almendra Marmolejo Correa, CIATEC A.C.
We have had an olfactometer device since 2012 and we haven’t experienced any technical problem until now. We have only had a little issue with the software of the instrument but Olfasense’s authorized staff was really helpful to solve it.
Sercan Soytaş, ARTEK
We were among the very first who introduced olfactometers to the local air quality assessment work in Russia by purchasing the piece of equipment at Olfasense. With Olfasense’s highly professional and friendly methodological and technical support we learned the technique and have been applying it ever since. We can attest that the whole cycle of our cooperation has been effective and pleasant.
SRI Atmosphere JSC
For many years we have analysed odour with an olfactometer from Olfasense. The equipment is very reliable, and we have never been in a position where it was not possible to perform the analyses planned. Only once we have experienced an error to the olfactometer. The error was discovered during in-house inspection of the olfactometer on the day before a large series of analyses – with quick and qualified help from the service department of Olfasense, the series of analyses could be performed as planned and within time limit established by the European Standard for odour determination by dynamic olfactometry. Excellent Service!
Ole Pontoppidan, Danish Meat Research Institute
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FAQs - Frequently asked questions about olfactometry and odour testing
What is olfactometry?
The measurement of the concentration of odorous substances in an air sample is called olfactometry. In this sensory measurement method, the human nose is used as a “measurement device”. Test persons in olfactometry are also referred to as odour panellists. Several odour panellists for the analysis of an olfactometric evaluation form an odour panel.
How does olfactometry work?
In olfactometry, an odour sample, usually contained in a sample bag, is connected to an olfactometer. This device for measuring odours, first dilutes this odour sample with neutral-smelling compressed air so that the odour panellists do not perceive any odour. In each test round, the olfactometer dilutes the odour sample less until the odour panellists perceive the odour. This point of perception is known as the odour threshold. As a result, you now know the dilution ratio between neutral air and sample air. And you can determine the odour concentration in units of OU / m³ air. The olfactometry measurement method is standardized in the European standard EN 13725.
Where is olfactometry used?
Dynamic olfactometry standardized in accordance with the European standard EN 13725 is mainly used for odour measurements in the environmental sector to determine odours from an odour source, e.g. an industrial plant. For this purpose, samples are taken in sample bags e.g. from exhaust chimneys or from surface sources with special sampling devices. The samples are evaluated with a dilution device, the so-called olfactometer. Specially trained people, so-called odour panellists, are used as sensors. The results of an olfactometry can be used, for example, to determine which filter technology (e.g. biofilter, thermal post-combustion, activated carbon, etc.) should be used in order to reduce odour emissions in accordance with the regulatory requirements,.
How many odour panellists do I need to perform olfactometry?
The EN 13725 specifies that the minimum size of the odour panel must be at least 4 for each odour measurement. A larger number of odour panellists is recommended to improve repeatability and accuracy. About 80% of all professional EN 13725 laboratories worldwide work with 4-place olfactometers. Only in some countries like the Netherlands 6 odour panellists are required. Please note that you can also work with 8 or 6 odour panellists on a 4-place olfactometer by adapting the olfactometer software settings accordingly.
Can I also use so-called field olfactometers?
Olfactometers used outdoors, so-called field olfactometers, do not meet the technical requirements of the EN 13725, as odour panellists must be isolated from the outside air as described in Chapter 7.2.1. Many other factors make measurements with field olfactometers difficult and mean that the results of field olfactometers cannot be validated. For example, low odour concentrations are very difficult to measure. This means, there has to be a certain odour in the outside air in order to be able to measure at all with a field olfactometer. In addition, the EN 13725 describes the measurement of odour emissions “at the source”, which requires sampling directly from odour sources such as chimneys or biofilters. As a consequence, results from using field olfactometers cannot, strictly speaking, be presented in OU / m³. This makes it difficult to make reliable statements about possible degrees of odour reduction. There are also no well-founded studies on the precision and uncertainty of the measurement method using field olfactometers.
