ASTM D1833 Standard Test Method for Odor of Petroleum Wax
8. Procedure
8.1 Scrape the surface of the sample to remove any foreign material and discard those scrapings. Using a clean scraper, prepare test specimens of approximately 10 g each of wax in thin shavings, placing them on odor-free paper or glassine. Obtain shavings that represent a cross section of the sample being tested. Prepare one test specimen for each panel member.
NOTE 2 - Conduct odor tests in a room as free as possible from odor. Avoid low relative humidity conditions, if possible, since it may cause difficulty in odor perception.
8.2 Each panel member shall make the odor evaluation immediately after the shavings are prepared by placing the nostrils in contact with the shavings and sniffing lightly (Note 3). An alternative procedure is permitted as follows: Immediately after preparing the shavings, transfer them to clean, odor-free bottles which are then capped. Prepare one bottle for each panel member. Each panel member shall then evaluate the test specimen between 15 and 60 min after preparation, by removing the bottle cap, placing the nostrils at the bottle mouth and sniffing lightly.
NOTE 3 - If the specimen is smelled repeatedly, the odor level will usually seem to decrease due to "olfactory fatigue" or loss of volatile components in the specimen, or both.
8.3 Record the numerical rating, as shown in Table 1, which corresponds to the odor intensity that best characterizes each specimen.
NOTE 4 - Panel members should not discuss odor test results until all tests have been completed on a sample.
8.4 Individual panel members shall not evaluate a series of more than three specimens at a time. Intervals of at least 15 min between each series shall be mandatory.
9. Calculation
9.1 Calculate to the nearest 0.5 unit the average of the numerical ratings given to a sample by the panel members. If any of the individual ratings differ from the average by more than 1.0 unit, repeat the odor evaluation test for that sample by all panel members. If, on the second test, any individual results differ from the average by more than 1.0 unit, discard those individual results and calculate a new average.
