The Challenge:
The Challenge:A retail chain sought to choose fragrances for a new line of bath soaps marketed under their store brand. Vendors submitted sample fragrances for each of five pre-established flavor families, and the retailer asked P&K to provide consumer learning as to which submissions performed the best. A total of 18 fragrances needed to be evaluated.
The P&K Solution:
P&K recruited shoppers of the retail chain to participate in two-day central location tests. Fragrances were presented to consumers in unbranded, 2-oz jars for sniffing. For this research, P&K took advantage of its Discovery Lab, consisting of eight rooms, each equipped with a rapid air exchange system that prevents odor build-up and contamination across successive fragrance exposures. With this precaution in place, P&K was able to conduct the research efficiently and cost-effectively, with each consumer evaluating multiple fragrances in succession without the risk of aroma carryover between samples.
The Outcome:
For each for the five flavor families, P&K was able to recommend a winning prototype that met or exceeded the action standard, based on measures of overall liking, fit with the name of the flavor family, and performance on key sensory characteristics.