Odor-intensity interaction in binary mixtures.

Four principles underlying odor summation in mixtures were examined on the bases of 10 Ss' magnitude estimates of 41 mixtures and their components (pyridine and DMDS). Thus, the overall intensity summation for mixtures are compared to self-addition reflected by the power function for single substances: Hypoaddition is a characteristic of both. Compromise is found for 25% of the mixtures, but it is not inherent in the power function. No level dependency is found for mixtures, although it is in accordance with the power function. Asymmetrical summation exists for mixtures and is inconsistent with the power function. Therefore, the idea of a congruence in odor-intensity summation processes is rejected. The results also constitute a successful cross-validation of the angle alpha (99 degrees vs. 102 degrees) of the perceptual vector model reported by B. Berglund et al. (1973).