# Can the pugency be of an odor measured quantitatively?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 16, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591 "2006-03-16T13:20:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/1 "2006-03-16T13:20:45Z")
My housemates and I were debating about who among us has the worst smelling farts (yeah…there’s a lotta time to kill during spring break). Is there such a device or method of measuring pungency that could settle our debate?
AC
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### Author:  [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/2 "2006-03-16T14:25:35Z")
Title should read… “Can the pungency of an odor be measured quanitatively?”
oops
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### Author:  [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/3 "2006-03-16T14:26:38Z")
Gaudere’s law again… _quantitatively_ :smack:
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/4 "2006-03-16T14:37:17Z")
> [@ArchitectChore](#):
>
> My housemates and I were debating about who among us has the worst smelling farts (yeah…there’s a lotta time to kill during spring break). Is there such a device or method of measuring pungency that could settle our debate?
>
> AC
Sure, **AC** , and here’s just the thing for you and your buds - the [Nasal Ranger](http://www.nasalranger.com/Importance.cfm). It’s a portable olfactometer and it’s available now! The field of olfactometry is apparently a booming one (especially in your case!).
Unfortunately, it’s a “call for pricing” item so I don’t know what kind of dent it will make in your wallets, but this is science, man! Do it!
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### Author:  [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/5 "2006-03-16T18:50:49Z")
Yes. I’ve even professionally read a study where this was done.
The idea is you take the odor sample, divide it up, and mix it with plain air at different ratios. Then you get paid smellers to sniff each diluted sample. For the most concentrated sample, they go ‘yuck!’. For more dilute samples, they go ‘Oh, just a hint of manure, with light, almost frothy, overtones of rotting meat’ . Finally at some dilution, they can’t smell it at all.
The amount of dilution needed to make the smell undetectable is the measure of the smell strength.
My suggestion is, given you and your housemate’s experience, that you find out who hires the paid smellers in your area.
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/6 "2006-03-16T20:18:34Z")
> [@Quercus](#):
>
> Yes. I’ve even professionally read a study where this was done.
I have as well. In a paper looking at neutralizing skunk odor, a device was used to quantify the stink.
OP- Find a scientist interested in your gastrointestinal situation. You should at least get some reprints of the paper in exchange for your cooperation.
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### Author:  [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pugency-be-of-an-odor-measured-quantitatively/348591/7 "2006-03-16T20:29:05Z")
There was a study done within the past 8 years that found the pungency of one’s anal eructations directly correlates with the amount of hydrogen sulfide released.
So if you got some kind of indicator (talk to your chemistry professor) that could read out the specific amounts in each fart, you would have some basis for resolving those “too close to call” judging situations.