Classification of chinese fragrant rapeseed oil based on sensory evaluation and gas chromatography-olfactometry

Fragrant rapeseed oils and traditional pressed oils are increasingly popular in China owing to their sensory advantages. Many fragrant rapeseed oils are labeled by different fragrance types; however, the scientific basis for these differences is lacking. To identify the distinctive aroma and achieve fragrance classification, the sensory characteristics and aroma components of nine different fragrant rapeseed oils were analyzed via sensory evaluation and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry. A total of 35 aroma compounds were found to contribute to the overall aroma. By using chemometrics methods, rapeseed oils were categorized into three fragrance styles: “strong fragrance,” “umami fragrance,” and “delicate fragrance.” In total, 10 aroma compounds were predicted to be the most effective compounds for distinguishing sensory characteristics of fragrant rapeseed oil. According to our results, this approach has excellent potential for the fragrance classification and quality control of rapeseed oil.