The advantages and pitfalls of sensory optimization are outlined in this paper.
The response surface design is presented in terms of application to optimization studies.
These studies are done by research and development. They deal with issues such as the role
of ingredients in a product formulation and the discovery of optimal combinations of these
ingredients that generate the desired sensory properties. Contour maps developed from the
experiment illustrate how to discover the best ingredient combinations and how to avoid
extrapolating beyond the range tested in the actual experiment.
Keywords: Optimization technique, contour map, response surface design,
mixture design, normal probability plot.
