What Olfasense does

Olfasense GmbH, headquartered in Kiel, Germany, is a privately held international odour consultancy and instrument manufacturer founded in 1996 (predecessor Ecoma GmbH) and operating today under a group structure that includes Olfasense B.V. (Netherlands), Olfasense UK Ltd (acquired 2020), and a Spanish office. The firm develops and manufactures dynamic olfactometers (TO8, TO9, and TO Evolution series), VOC emission test chambers (EK250, EK1000), and corrosive gas test chambers (SK1500), and operates four accredited olfactometry laboratories (DAkkS, UKAS, RvA, MCERTS) plus an ISO 17043-accredited proficiency-testing lab. Its technology stack centres on dynamic olfactometry, sensory analysis using trained human panels, and molecular characterisation via GC-MS and GC-Sniffing.

Olfasense generates revenue across five streams: (1) accredited environmental odour consulting and impact assessment for industrial, agricultural, and municipal clients; (2) sensory and molecular product/material odour testing and certification via the Olfasense Odour Quality Seal; (3) hardware sales of olfactometers, test chambers, sniffing sticks, and reference materials through direct offices and certified distributors in 65+ countries; (4) interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency tests under EN 13725 and VDA 270; and (5) training delivered through in-person workshops, the annual Kiel workshop, and online seminars. All products and services are priced on a quote basis.

The customer base spans industrial facilities, testing laboratories, product manufacturers, and regulators across energy, chemicals, automotive, consumer products, textiles, utilities, and academia — with named accounts including HMEL, Beiersdorf, BSH, Veolia, DSM, Hohenstein, and FORCE Technology. The company claims 6,500+ projects completed since 1996, 400+ laboratories equipped worldwide, and active participation in VDI, CEN, ISO, NEN, and DWA standardisation committees.

Name

Olfasense

Legal name

Olfasense GmbH

Website

https://olfasense.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Olfasense is a privately held German odour consultancy and instrument manufacturer that sells olfactometers and VOC/corrosive gas test chambers, runs four accredited olfactometry laboratories, and delivers environmental and product odour testing, certification, and training to industrial, agricultural, and consumer-product clients across 65+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Odour Measurement & Consulting Services

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Odor Monitoring & Olfactometry (EUAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Odorization Systems & Compliance Monitoring (Odorant Injection/Verification) (EUAJADAG)

Keywords

• Odour measurement services
• Olfactometry equipment
• VOC emission testing
• Environmental odour consulting
• Product odour certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Odour Consulting Services: Accredited odour sampling, olfactometry analysis, environmental odour impact assessments, and regulatory consulting for industrial, agricultural, and municipal clients. Services include Immissionsprognosen (immission forecasts), dispersion calculations, and expert testimony for planning and regulatory permits.
2. Product & Material Odour Testing: Sensory and molecular analysis services for product optimisation, including panel-based odour assessment, deodorant testing, and the Olfasense odour quality seal certification.
3. Odour Measurement Equipment Sales & Maintenance: Sale, calibration, and maintenance of olfactometers (TO evolution series), VOC emission test chambers (EK series), corrosive gas test chambers (SK series), sniffing sticks, and associated software. Equipment sales complemented by training and after-sales support.
4. Interlaboratory Comparisons & Proficiency Tests: Accredited proficiency testing programmes (ILC) for odour laboratories based on EN 13725 and VDA 270, offered both as publicly accessible comparisons and laboratory-specific tests.
5. Online Odour Seminars & Training: Theoretical and practical training on EN 13725, VDI 3880, and related standards. Training offered both in-person and via online platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Olfasense develops and manufactures proprietary odour measurement instruments (TO Evolution series olfactometers, EK VOC emission test chambers, SK corrosive gas test chambers and sniffing stick reference materials) and delivers accredited odour consultancy, sensory and molecular product/material testing, environmental impact assessments with odour dispersion modelling, and interlaboratory proficiency tests. It also certifies highly effective odour-control products through the Olfasense Odour Quality Seal programme.

Product overview

Olfasense offers a comprehensive portfolio of odour measurement products and services organized as: (1) Instruments: TO8, TO9, and TO Evolution olfactometers for dynamic olfactometry; EK250 and EK1000 VOC emission test chambers; SK1500 corrosive gas test chambers; and sniffing sticks with reference materials. (2) Testing Services: Product and material odour testing, environmental odour management with dispersion modelling, and molecular analysis via GC-MS and GC-Sniffing. (3) QA/QC Services: Accredited interlaboratory comparisons (proficiency tests) per EN 13725 and VDA 270, and reference material with training. (4) Certification: The Olfasense Odour Quality Seal for product certification. The company operates as a one-stop shop offering both equipment and services, serving over 400 laboratories in more than 65 countries with over 30 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Olfasense Odour Quality Seal: Certification awarded to highly effective products that pass Olfasense's odour testing standards
• Ortelium
• Noseletter

Products and services

• TO8 Olfactometer Dynamic olfactometer for measuring odour concentration according to EN 13725; described as the world's most frequently used measuring instrument for odour measurement. For accredited odour testing laboratories, research institutes and universities.
• TO9 Olfactometer Compact dynamic olfactometer for odour concentration determination, featuring user-friendly software for laboratory operations.
• TO Evolution Olfactometer Series Dynamic olfactometer series for olfactometry with easy handling and good report facilities, compatible with ISO 17025 and EN 13725 standards. The proprietary core instrument line offered by Olfasense.
• EK250 VOC Emission Test Chamber Emission test chamber for measuring volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from materials and products, compliant with ISO 16000-9 standard. For testing laboratories and materials manufacturers.
• EK1000 Materials Emission Testing Chamber VOC emission testing chamber for materials emission testing with increased capacity and reduced maintenance costs.
• SK1500 Noxious Gases Testing Chamber Corrosive gas test chamber for testing noxious and harmful gases, specifically developed for automotive research and other industrial applications.
• Sniffing Sticks & Reference Material Olfactory reference materials and sniffing sticks for sensory calibration and quality control in odour laboratories.
• Environmental Odour Management Services Full range of sensory and molecular odour analysis services including odour dispersion modelling, impact assessment, and odour control solutions for industrial and agricultural facilities required to control odorous emissions under planning or regulatory permits.
• Product & Material Odour Testing Services Sensory and molecular odour testing for products and materials using trained human panels and analytical instruments, including deodorant testing and product optimisation studies. For consumer goods, textile, automotive and construction material manufacturers.
• GC-MS Molecular Analysis High-resolution GC-MS service for characterising specific VOCs in complex gas mixtures, including TENAX-based VOC analysis, siloxane analysis in biogas, and targeted group analyses.
• GC-Sniffing Service Gas chromatography-olfactometry service to identify odour-relevant compounds and assess their sensory impact.
• Interlaboratory Comparisons (Proficiency Tests) Accredited proficiency tests according to EN 13725 and VDA 270 standards for quality assurance of odour laboratories, suitable for proving laboratory accreditation readiness.
• Olfasense Odour Quality Seal Product certification awarded to highly effective products that meet Olfasense's odour quality standards through sensory and molecular analyses.
• Odour Training Services Theoretical and practical training on EN 13725, sampling, panel selection, and measurements, as well as equipment calibration and maintenance training; offered in-person and via online seminars.
• Odour Dispersion Modelling Computer-based modelling to forecast odour dispersion from industrial and agricultural facilities for regulatory permits and planning applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Odour complaints reduced by over 50% at HMEL Guru Gobind Singh Refinery following Olfasense assessment and remediation guidance.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• StarlabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2025Olfasense and Starlab partnered for funded research in fragrance evaluation (Sniffcon project). This research collaboration focuses on fragrance evaluation methodologies and is supported by external funding.
• vektorrausch GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partnervektorrausch GmbH provides web design, technical implementation, and maintenance services for Olfasense's global corporate website. Located at Muehlenstraße 1, 24143 Kiel, Germany.
• OrteliumcoreOthersOrtelium is a dedicated digital platform (separate website ortelium.com) for odour management, complaints handling, and monitoring data. Marketed alongside Olfasense's consulting and laboratory services as part of its digitalised environmental odour management offering.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Global TIC major with product-testing, sensory, and environmental service lines. Comparable on consumer-product sensory assessment and VOC/odour certification work for automotive (VDA 270), textile, and consumer-goods customers — directly overlapping with Olfasense's product-testing segment.
• Arcadis: Global design, engineering, and environmental consultancy with an air-quality and odour practice serving industrial operators, infrastructure developers, and municipalities. Comparable on environmental impact assessment and dispersion modelling work, especially for refining, waste, and water-sector clients.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with an environmental and product-testing portfolio that includes odour measurement services. Listed as an Olfasense customer reference (SGS Tecnos S.A.U. in Spain), illustrating the overlap. SGS's breadth dwarfs Olfasense's niche depth, but both compete for industrial environmental and product-testing mandates.
• Eurofins: World-leading food, environmental, and product testing group operating hundreds of accredited laboratories. Eurofins competes with Olfasense in environmental and consumer-product testing markets and has the scale and M&A capacity to acquire specialty odour players. Comparability is on the testing-services and accreditation dimensions rather than on instrumentation.
• Ramboll: Global engineering, environmental, and sustainability consultancy providing air-quality and odour impact assessments as part of industrial permitting and ESG engagements. Competes with Olfasense on environmental dispersion modelling and regulatory support for industrial and municipal clients, particularly in Northern Europe.
• WSP: Global engineering consultancy (which acquired Golder Associates, listed as an Olfasense customer) with significant air-quality and environmental permitting capabilities. Directly competes on industrial odour assessments, dispersion modelling, and regulatory support for energy and waste-sector clients.
• Bureau Veritas: International testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major with environmental, agri-food, and commodity testing services. Comparable as a broad incumbent that addresses overlapping customer RFPs (industrial operators, regulators, FMCG manufacturers) with a portfolio that includes some sensory and emissions-related work.

Direct peers

• FORCE Technology: Danish technology consultancy and accredited laboratory that operates olfactometry services using Olfasense TO8 olfactometers (a customer relationship) but also performs its own odour impact assessments and accredited testing. Directly comparable in service scope, accreditation profile, and customer base across Northern Europe.

Regional players

• WESSLING: Family-owned European testing laboratory group headquartered in Germany with broad environmental, food, and product-testing capabilities. Comparable as a German/European mid-size accredited lab competitor with overlapping services in air-quality and emissions testing, though without Olfasense's specialty depth in olfactometry.

Emerging players

• AIRSENSE Analytics: German manufacturer of electronic-nose (e-nose) instruments and PEN3 sensor systems used for odour monitoring in waste, wastewater, and industrial settings. Comparable as a German-headquartered odour instrumentation competitor pursuing a sensor-based, automated-monitoring approach that potentially substitutes human-panel olfactometry for routine applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/olfasense
• Xx.com/olfasense
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olfasense

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olfasense