Does the mind reflect the mouth? Sensory profiling and the future.

Descriptive Sensory Profiling methods have been used for over half-a-century. As the application of these methods obviously does not occur in a vacuum, we sketch the contextual basis of these methods. A unifying model, illustrating the tasks required from a sensory panellist, is presented with the aim of illuminating some major differences between methods. The history and main developments in the field of descriptive sensory profiling are outlined in a basic pedigree of methods. The authors suggest an approach to sensory profiling where taylor-made, problem oriented, methods are devised and used.