Aroma release report
The dominant pathway of an aroma (orthonasal or retronasal), the ortho/retro ratio, and the release areas by pathway.
What it is
The aroma release report is the output of an advanced test that distinguishes where the aroma of a sample is perceived:
- Orthonasal — the aroma in the nose, before tasting, when you smell the chocolate.
- Retronasal — the aroma in the mouth, while tasting, when the volatiles rise through the back of the nose.
Knowing which pathway dominates is key in fine chocolate making: a chocolate may smell understated and yet unfold its full aroma only as it melts in the mouth (or the other way around).
Access path
- URL:
https://app.areacacao.com/sensory-analysis/evaluations/<id> - How to get there: open the aroma release tasting in My evaluations and scroll down to the Results section.
Pro plan and above. This is an advanced test, designed for a trained panel.
What the report shows
Dominant pathway
The report declares the sample's dominant pathway:
- Orthonasal (in the nose) — the aroma is perceived mostly when you smell it.
- Retronasal (in the mouth) — the aroma is perceived mostly while tasting.
- Balanced — no pathway clearly dominates.
Next to the pathway is the ortho/retro ratio, which quantifies how much weight one pathway carries against the other.
Release area by pathway
A bar chart compares the orthonasal AUC with the retronasal AUC. The AUC (area under the curve) sums up the total magnitude of aroma perceived through each pathway: the taller bar is the pathway that releases the most aroma.
How to interpret it
- A retronasal predominance suggests a chocolate whose aroma reveals itself as it melts in the mouth: understated when you smell it, generous when you eat it.
- An orthonasal predominance describes a chocolate that is highly aromatic in the nose but may fall short in the mouth.
- A balanced profile indicates coherence between what the nose and the palate promise — valuable for communicating a consistent experience to the customer.