SIFT-MS: A Tool for Objective Instrumental Odor Analysis?

The human olfactory system’s response to odor is extremely complex and has proved difficult to reproduce instrumentally, and so human sensory panels remain the gold standard approach. Sensory panels are, however, expensive and can only assess a limited number of samples per day before panelists become fatigued, meaning they are not practically scalable for applications ranging from the assessment of recycled packaging to environmental odor complaints. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC-olfactometry (GC-O) are powerful instrumental techniques, but throughput and coverage of all odorants in a single analysis are significant impediments to wider use. Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) provides an alternative approach using direct sample analysis with soft chemical ionization that sensitively and specifically quantifies a wide range of odorants in real time. This article reviews SIFT-MS odor analysis in food-flavor, packaging, and environmental applications, suggesting potential utilization as an objective screening tool.