Use of temporal sensory evaluation methods with consumers: a position paper

Abstract

Temporal sensory evaluation methods aim to describe the dynamics of product perception. These methods were developed and implemented with trained panels, but they are increasingly used with consumers. However, this shift has probably been guided more by practical aspects than by scientific considerations, and the limits of application of temporal methods with consumers are not well-documented. This article discusses some of these limitations, presents recent developments looking to overcome them, and makes recommendations on the choice and implementation of methods as well as on the analysis of temporal data and their interpretation. This contribution relies on recent methodological works: a systematic scoping review on temporal methods and several articles comparing methods using controlled stimuli and commercial products with various levels of complexity.