In this kind of test, testers describe their sensory perception of a product. Descriptive sensory analysis does not specify whether a product is the best from a qualitative standpoint but rather only serves to objectively describe a product. There is a distinction made here between a simple descriptive test and a profile test.
This method describes how to conduct a simple descriptive test.
beer, beer-based beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water
This simple descriptive analysis provides a method for articulately communicating sensory attributes. The method can be utilized to formulate a list of attributes for the profile test. The list of attributes must then be statistically corroborated and reference samples employed to ensure that all of the testers identify the same reference substance for each of the given attributes (e.g., rancid butter, sweaty = reference substance butyric acid).