Today was International Target day. Four of us get together in a conference room and smell different lots of the same material and pick out the best one. The number one sample is designated as the Gold Target and is poured into tiny sample bottles to be shipped out to our different affiliates around the world. Lots of various orange oils from 10X, 5X, terpeneless etc. were evaluated and the room had such a lovely lingering smell. I knew it wouldn’t last when the onion oil along with the methional (smells like rotting potatoes), ethyl butyrate 
(filthy socks), and methyl mercaptan (burnt to hell coffee)were waiting for their time under our noses. Sometimes I can’t believe the vile chemicals that are used to make flavors, some if smelled neat actually make you gag. This only happens when we are too lazy to make a 10 ppm solution in ethanol. We are lazy so we make sure our stomachs are empty during the evaluations.
I love my target partners because we tell our crazy stories and vent our frustrations to one other in between sniffs. We also love to rip apart the QC lab downstairs when we come across an atrocious sample that they approved. The battle with the QC manager results in her denying everything and telling us she can’t see what’s wrong with the sample.
I know you are not experts but do you think wintergreen oil should smell like petrol?
Today K told us her husband is now living in Florida in a 55 and over community. She said she was relieved to be rid of him and that she couldn’t divorce him because of various financial reasons. We never knew that she was unhappy in her marriage she is such a positive and happy person never complaining. I guess the onion oil helped the tears out. After a good cry, she asked T. to pass her the bottle of food grade 190 proof ethanol (that we were supposed to use to make the dilutions with). She added a bit to her juice gave us a wink and was back to chattering and laughing.
Hmmm Have a nice weekend!!!!!
