Evaluation of the “soothing” intensity of a lotion product and petroleum jelly using time-intensity sensory techniques
William E. Lee, III , M. Suzanne Mitchell

Synopsis

Time-intensity (TI) sensory techniques were applied to the assessment of the “soothing” intensity of two skin-care products: a commercially available moisturizing lotion and petroleum jelly. Subjects rated the soothing quality of a product every ten seconds for a total of 120 seconds while product samples were either self-applied or applied by another person (“other-applied”), using the middle three fingers in both cases. Bare-fingers rubbing (both self- and other-applied) was also included as a reference condition. The main objectives of this study were: 1) to demonstrate the nature of the information provided by the TI technique (as compared to single-point evaluations); and 2) to determine if “soothing” ratings were higher when the product was self-applied versus other-applied. The results indicated that significant differences were present between the products in terms of both the soothing intensities and the rate of soothing decrease with time, with the latter clearly indicated by the TI “fingerprints.” Also, “soothing” ratings were higher when the product was self-applied versus other-applied. This suggests that consumers use tactile information from both the applying surface (fingers) and receiving surface (skin) in the assessment of skin-care products.

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