Variability of olfactory thresholds

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Abstract
It is well known from earlier studies that olfactory thresholds are extremely variable across subjects. The present study demonstrates that the major source of this variability is the fluctuation of any individual's threshold over time. Each of the three subjects gave 60 thresholds, two on each of 30 testing days and 20 each for three odorants: butanol, pyridine and β-phenylethylmethylethylcarbinol. The variability of each subject was of comparable magnitude to that encountered among large groups of subjects tested only once. In contrast, the mean thresholds of the three subjects were much alike. The outcome suggests that the extreme fluctuations of threshold from one test to another may tend to obscure real and stable average differences among subjects' olfactory keenness or dullness.