Sensory Testing

A consumer's direct sensory experience with a product often plays a major role in that product's market success. In order to minimize returns and maximize repeat purchases, it is crucial that a product's attributes accurately match the sensory cues delivered on product packaging and marketing collateral and meet consumer expectations. UL sensory testing services evaluate product difference, characteristic and preference attributes in order to help companies understand how their products are perceived by their target markets. Definition Utilizing both expert analysis and consumer feedback, UL's sensory testing services help companies evaluate whether their products meet consumers' preferred sensory characteristics. Our customers gain a detailed view of consumers' responses to a tested product and a deeper understanding of that product's prospective competitive value. Benefits Industry knowledge, analytical expertise and technical skill come together in UL’s state-of-the-art facilities to evaluate how tested products will influence consumer purchase decisions and build brand loyalty. Trained Descriptive Panels Our customers’ products are evaluated by panels of people who are experienced in sensory science. UL uses an established framework during testing in order to help ensure standardized responses across product lines and quantitative result data. Shelf-life and Stability Studies UL evaluates a product’s sensory appeal over a period of time in order to determine the appropriate messaging on product packaging. Degree of Difference Testing Our tests help customers know whether appreciable differences occur between test and control products, and help establish a product’s intrinsic variability rate due to variances in production time, component sourcing and other circumstances. Product Cuttings UL’s product cutting tests help assess general product quality, competitive value and consumer acceptance. Claim Substantiation and Product Optimization UL’s testing and analysis help customers verify their advertising, packaging and marketing claims and assist in their efforts to maximize consumer satisfaction potential. On-site Sensory Testing and Product Evaluations UL can help customers create in-house programs using accepted sensory testing methods in order to evaluate specific product attributes.