Rowe, DJ

Perfumer & Flavorist [Perfum. Flavor.], vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 9-16, Aug 1998

The term "savory" is one that is readily understood, but difficult to define. It incorporates both positive and negative features; Chambers Concise 20th Century Dictionary defines it as "of good savour or relish; appetizing, salty, piquant or spiced (opp. to sweet)". This introduces some key aspects, especially the implication of a strong, pleasant aroma, and the idea of being opposite to sweet, but this still does not tell the full story. In an attempt to discover more about people's perceptions of "savory," a number of people at or associated with Oxford Chemicals were asked to complete a simple questionnaire assessing the suitability of 146 odor descriptors against the term "savory".