1 1
Odors Perception and Odor
Analysis of Latrines in Africa
and India.
Charles Jean-François Chappuis, Yvan Niclass,
Isabelle Cayeux, and Christian Starkenmann
In Partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation
FSM 3 conference, Hanoi, 20.01.2015
2 2
› Malodors Drive the concept of lack of Hygiene, Sanitation,
Respect & Dignity
› Fragrances Ideal messenger to communicate on Hygiene,
Sanitation, Respect & Dignity
› Firmenich Creates fragrances & delivery technologies
Malodors, Sanitation & Hygiene
5 5
Results: Important Odorants in Fecal
Odors Acids Phenols
Nitrogen
derivatives
Sulfur
derivatives
+
Fecal reconstitution Latrine reconstitution Stale urine reconstitution
6 6
Sensory Survey
Ahmedabad
(India)
Nairobi
(Kenya)
Durban
(South Africa)
Geneva
(Switzerland)
RTI
SEWA
NEERMAN
SANERGY
Milicent Kasaya
Pr. Chris Buckley
Dr. Lungiswa Zuma
ETHEKWINI WATER
Firmenich
7 7
Results: Pleasantness
India Kenya South Africa Switzerland
Ple
asa
ntn
ess
Fecal Latrine Urine Banana Citrus Lavender
-3-2
-10
12
3
de
de
d
c
ac
bc
e e
e
a
ac
bc
e e
de
a
ab
c
de
e de
ac
ac
ac
8 8
› The fecal reconstitution (4 molecules) produced similar results as the
latrine reconstitution (same 4 molecules + 4 others found in latrines
sludge) in every country.
› A reconstitution with butyric acid, p-cresol, indole and dimethyl
trisulfide can evoke an olfactory experience similar to the one during
the use of latrines in three different continents.
› This confirms and consolidates previous studies on fecal odors that
butyric acid, p-cresol, indole and dimethyl trisulfide are strong
contributors to the human fecal odor.
› Stable synthetic reconstitution of pit-latrine malodor is essential for
perfume creation, the development of odor control method and for a
better understanding of the perception of the latrine malodor.
Conclusions
13 13
Results: Association with Images
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
-1.5
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Dim 1 56.52 %
Dim
2 2
8.9
7 %
feces
latrine
sew age
urine
banana
lemon
leavesflow er
ban:indban:kenban:sa
ban:sw i
bl:ind bl:ken
bl:sa
cit:ind
cit:kencit:sa
cit:sw i
lav:ind lav:kenlav:salav:sw i
A
-1 0 1 2
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Dim 2 28.97 %
Dim
3 9
.38 %
feceslatrine sew age
urine
banana
lemon
leaves
flow er
ban:indban:ken
ban:sa
ban:sw i
cit:ind
cit:ken
cit:sa
cit:sw i
lav:indlav:ken
lav:salav:sw i
bl:ind
bl:ken
bl:sa
B
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Dim 1 56.52 %
Dim
4 4
.09 %
feces
latrine sew age
urine
bananalemon
leavesflow er
ur:indur:ken
ur:sa
ur:sw i
fec:ind
fec:ken
fec:sa
fec:sw i
lat:indlat:kenlat:sa
lat:sw i
C
1 2 3 4 5
DimensionC
um
ula
tive p
erc
enta
ge o
f variance
020
40
60
80
100
D
14 14
Results: Association with Images
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
-1.5
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Dim 1 56.52 %
Dim
2 2
8.9
7 %
feces
latrine
sew age
urine
banana
lemon
leavesflow er
ban:indban:kenban:sa
ban:sw i
bl:ind bl:ken
bl:sa
cit:ind
cit:kencit:sa
cit:sw i
lav:ind lav:kenlav:salav:sw i
A
-1 0 1 2
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Dim 2 28.97 %
Dim
3 9
.38 %
feceslatrine sew age
urine
banana
lemon
leaves
flow er
ban:indban:ken
ban:sa
ban:sw i
cit:ind
cit:ken
cit:sa
cit:sw i
lav:indlav:ken
lav:salav:sw i
bl:ind
bl:ken
bl:sa
B
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Dim 1 56.52 %
Dim
4 4
.09 %
feces
latrine sew age
urine
bananalemon
leavesflow er
ur:indur:ken
ur:sa
ur:sw i
fec:ind
fec:ken
fec:sa
fec:sw i
lat:indlat:kenlat:sa
lat:sw i
C
1 2 3 4 5
Dimension
Cum
ula
tive p
erc
enta
ge o
f variance
020
40
60
80
100
D
15 15
Results: Intensity
India Kenya South Africa Switzerland
Inte
nsity
Fecal Latrine Urine Banana Citrus Lavender
12
34
5
cdf
cdef
ij ij ij j
a
ac
adf
de
eh bef
ac
ad
befg
hij
ij
ghij
abd
adef
adefi
defj
efj cdefj
16 16
Results: Familiarity
Fecal Latrine Urine Banana Citrus Lavender
Fam
iliarity
, perc
enta
ge
020
40
60
80
100
b b b
a ab
India Kenya South Africa Sw itzerland
Fam
iliarity
, perc
enta
ge
020
40
60
80
100
b
aa
a