Ireland’s Premier Odour Emissions Analysis Laboratory
We pride ourselves on being one of Ireland’s first dedicated odour analysis laboratories, delivering industry leading expertise with over 30 years of hands-on specialised experience. Leveraging the latest advanced technology and rigorous scientific methods, we provide precise, reliable and fully compliant accredited odour sampling and analysis services designed to meet your environmental licence requirements. Our commitment to excellence, knowledge and data integrity makes us the trusted partner for businesses across diverse sectors seeking to manage and control odour emissions effectively.
Odour emissions, while often invisible, can significantly impact community wellbeing, regulatory alignment and your facility’s reputation. That is why comprehensive odour monitoring, sampling and analysis are critical components of any robust environmental management strategy. Understanding the nature, concentration and character of odours emitted from your site allows you to identify sources, assess impacts and implement targeted mitigation measures that protect both the environment and your community relationships. Our odour services are meticulously aligned with the international standard EN 13725:2022 and the EPA AG2 and AG5, ensuring all sampling and laboratory analysis we conduct supports your licence obligations and sustainability goals. Whether you are managing odour from waste processing, industrial operations, agricultural activities or other sectors, our expert team and state-of-the-art equipment empower you with clear actionable insights.
Importantly, odour monitoring and analysis at Air Scientific are seamlessly integrated with our broader environmental services which include stack emissions monitoring and occupational monitoring assessments providing you with a comprehensive, coordinated approach to environmental compliance and impact reduction. This holistic service model helps you understand the full picture of your site emissions, streamlining reporting and enabling more effective science-driven decision making. With Air Scientific, you are not just getting odour data, you are gaining a strategic advantage to proactively manage odour risks, enhance environmental performance and demonstrate your commitment to responsible operations.
In line with the latest public announcements, the Environmental Protection Agency intends that from 1 January 2027, all odour sampling and analysis for EPA‑licensed sites must be carried out by a service provider accredited under EN 13725:2022. This accreditation requirement is designed to ensure consistency, traceability and defensible odour monitoring results.
Environmental Protection Agency Ireland
Odour Sampling Methods
At Air Scientific, we deliver the most comprehensive suite of advanced, EN 13725 accredited odour sampling techniques, providing accurate, reliable and fully EPA compliant measurement of odour emissions across all industry types for regulatory, occupational and environmental assessments. These are as follows:
Point Dry Sampling
This method is used for sampling from dry emission sources such as vents, stacks, or ducts with low humidity and no moisture saturation. Air is extracted directly from the emission point using specialised sampling probes, flow-controlled pumps and heated lines (if required), ensuring representative collection while avoiding condensation or sample degradation. Common in combustion processes, gas turbines or industrial exhausts.
Point Wet Sampling
Applied where the emission stream contains moisture or water vapour, such as from scrubbers, humidifiers, or wastewater vents. This technique involves careful conditioning and potential use of condensate traps or chilled impingers to preserve sample integrity. Moisture content is considered during both sampling and analysis to ensure accurate odour concentration measurement.
Passive Hood Area Sampling
A fixed passive hood is placed over the emitting surface and is combined with an anemometer to measure the velocity. This determines whether the odour source is active or passive while also identifying if the emissions are homogeneous or non-homogeneous. This method is ideal for sampling surfaces like landfills, compost windrows and or aerated tanks.
Lindvall Hood Sampling
A lightweight, semi-enclosed flux chamber designed to capture low-flow odour emissions from area sources such as wastewater basins, compost piles and landfills. Its design allows clean air to sweep across the surface without disturbing natural emission patterns, ensuring representative flux measurements. The hood provides controlled airflow and defined surface area, enabling standardised, reproducible quantification of odour release.
Flux Hood Sampling
Utilised to determine emission fluxes from passive or low-pressure sources. Clean air is passed over the surface in a controlled flow and odorous air is extracted at a constant rate to calculate emission rates.
Cover Sheet Sampling
A gas-impermeable sheet is sealed over the odour source for a set duration. The accumulated emissions are then withdrawn via a port for analysis. Suitable for irregular or diffuse surfaces such as Biofilters that do not meet the requirements of 1m2 passive hood sampling.
On-Site Dilution Services
We offer both static and dynamic dilution of odour samples on-site to handle highly concentrated emissions for immediate, accurate sensory analysis and assessment. Static dilution mixes samples with clean air at fixed ratios, while dynamic dilution allows continuous adjustment during testing, ensuring reliable data without sample degradation or delays. This reduces the need for repeated sampling visits and provides fast results critical for decision making.
Sample Bags
All odour samples are collected using our own custom-accredited Nalophan NA™ sampling bags, ensuring full traceability, stability and compliance from the moment of capture. Each sample is transported directly to our permanent, accredited odour laboratory and analysed within the maximum 30-hour holding period, guaranteeing adherence to EN 13725 and EPA requirements. By completing all olfactometry in Ireland, we eliminate the delays and risks associated with overseas transport, giving you faster turnaround times, greater data reliability and results you can depend on.
Odour Analysis Methods
Our accredited odour analysis techniques provide a detailed and accurate assessment of odour emissions, using both sensory and instrumental methods. Utilizing the Olfasense Ecoma T09 Dynamic Dilution Olfactometer, our trained sensory panel members evaluate odour samples according to EN13725, ensuring reproducibility and accuracy. Panel members are screened for sensitivity and consistency with certified reference gases before every analysis.
Dynamic Dilution Olfactometry
Dynamic Dilution Olfactometry is a precision sensory methodology for quantifying odour concentrations through exposure of a trained sensory panel to carefully controlled, continuously diluted odour air streams under controlled laboratory conditions.
Yes/No Method
Individual assessors are presented with a single sample at a defined dilution and report detection or non-detection. This allows statistical derivation of odour detection thresholds, accounting for inter and intra-panellist variability.
Dual Forced-Choice Method
Assessors are presented with simultaneous paired samples, one odorous and one odour-free and must identify the odorous sample. This method reduces sensory bias and random response errors, enhancing detection sensitivity, especially for low-intensity or borderline odours.
Odour Concentration
Measured in Odour Units per cubic metre (ouE/m³) using Dynamic Dilution Olfactometry with the state-of-the-art Olfasense Ecoma T09, utilising human sensory olfaction, enabling precise quantification of odour levels.
Laboratory Dilution If samples are too concentrated for immediate analysis, we can perform controlled dilution at our laboratory to ensure reliable analysis without loss of data quality.
Odour Character
Our expert sensory panel identifies and describes the distinct qualities or types of odours present, helping to locate sources and design targeted mitigation. Can be used in combination with GC-O and GCMS to validate specific compounds associated with perceived odours.
Hedonic Tone
Assessment of the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the odour by its rating on a hedonic scale. It provides valuable insight into potential community impact and mitigation priority.
Intensity
Evaluates the perceived strength of an odour, independently from concentration. Rated using a standardised intensity scale. It is essential for understanding how far odours travel and how strongly they are perceived at receptor locations. It supports accurate odour dispersion modelling and public impact assessments.
Additional Services
Dedicated Laboratory Analysis Only Service
For clients who prefer to perform odour sampling themselves, we offer a professional accredited laboratory analysis service. This approach allows you to maintain control over sampling while benefiting from rapid analysis without the need to send samples abroad. With this service we offer custom accredited sample bags. It must be noted, as per EN13725 and EPA guidance, samples must be analysed within 30 hours of the sample been captured and our local laboratory service can meet this timeframe while ensuring accredited analysis.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
At Air Scientific, we complement our industry-leading odour testing services with advanced GC-MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry) analysis through our trusted laboratory partners. GC-MS is a powerful technique that allows us to pinpoint and quantify specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odorous substances that may not be fully captured by traditional olfactometry. This method provides a detailed chemical profile of your emissions, helping you better understand what is in your air and where it is coming from. GC-MS is also a critical tool in odour complaints investigation, regulatory compliance and source apportionment projects.
Using gas chromatography, compounds in an air sample are first separated, then mass spectrometry identifies each one based on its unique molecular structure. This level of insight is essential when dealing with complex odour sources like those from wastewater treatment plants, rendering facilities, composting operations, chemical manufacturing or food processing. Whether you are trying to identify sulphur-based compounds, aldehydes, ketones, ammonia or other trace-level odour contributors, GC-MS delivers high-precision results that support targeted mitigation and regulatory reporting. All our samples are collected using approved methods such as custom accredited Nalophan NA™ sample bags, canisters or sorbent tubes and are analysed in accredited laboratories that adhere to strict quality standards. The findings are then interpreted by our expert team to provide a full-spectrum view of your site’s odour impact.
Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry (GC-O)
This is a specialised service that merges precision gas chromatographic separation of volatile compounds with real-time olfactory detection, either through trained human sensory panellists or advanced electronic “robot noses” (e-noses). This dual approach links chemical composition directly with sensory perception, giving a complete picture of odour impact.
Volatile compounds are separated via GC and delivered to a sniffing port, where human assessors or e-noses evaluate odour intensity, character and perceptual relevance. This enables simultaneous chemical identification and sensory profiling, providing insights that purely instrumental or sensory methods alone cannot achieve. Gas Chromatography Olfactometry can also detect trace odorants, resolve co-eluting compounds and deliver objective, reproducible odour quantification. The use of e-noses further enhances consistency, throughput and the ability to monitor continuously. This service is ideal for source characterisation, regulatory compliance, odour impact assessment and targeted mitigation, providing actionable insights to optimise odour management.
Why Choose Air Scientific?
Expert Odour Emission Analysis
Infrastructure Our permanent, advanced, stationary laboratory is equipped to perform all odour analyses in-house, ensuring rapid turnaround and data security.
Schedule We offer the broadest accredited sampling scope available and expert accredited analysis using state-of-the-art equipment.
Over 30 Years of Experience Our team’s deep expertise in odour science and environmental monitoring means you will receive knowledgeable reliable support.
Compliance Accredited monitoring, sampling and analysis that is performed in accordance with EN13725:2022 requirements and in line with EPA AG2 and AG5 guidance notes, ensuring your results meet regulatory requirements while future-proofing your compliance ahead of the 2027 EPA mandate.
Inter-Laboratory Proficiency Testing We actively participate in expert proficiency testing coordinated and operated by Olfasense, ensuring our methods remain accurate, reliable and aligned with international standards.
Seamless Integration Our Odour emission monitoring services can be fully integrated into your custom environmental monitoring plan, working seamlessly alongside our stack emissions and occupational monitoring.
Comprehensive Reporting & Support You will receive AG2 compliant, clear actionable report, tailored to your licence conditions, helping you manage risks and communicate effectively with stakeholders.