Abstract

In many countries, restrictions on the use of traditional preservative treatments have resulted in efforts to develop wood products for outdoor use that are durable, environmentally friendly, and appealing to consumers. In the present study, consumers' preferences for wooden deck materials were investigated using sensory analysis. The analysis included an analytical sensory profiling of five deck materials, conducted by a trained sensory panel, as well as a hedonic preference study conducted on Norwegian customers. Eighteen visual and tactile attributes were identified, and statistical analysis indicated that these attributes were sufficient to discriminate between the different deck materials. The results imply that consumers prefer deck materials with a homogeneous visual appearance and moderate color intensity. The study demonstrated a successful application of sensory research on wood products and implies that sensory analysis is an appropriate tool to study relationships between hedoic judgments and product characteristics. The study was carried out on wooden deck materials, but the results are probably also relevant for other wood products.

Published in

Canadian Journal of Forest Research
2008, Volume: 38, number: 6, pages: 1385-1396
Publisher: NRC Research Press (Canadian Science Publishing)

SLU Authors

• Roos, Anders

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/X07-188

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/18025