Short answer
A perfume evaluation sheet is a fixed form for recording what you smell in a trial, so that every evaluation captures the same things in the same way: which sample (formula, version, trial and concentration), on what medium, at what time point, how strong, what character, what changed, how it compares with the previous version, and what to do next — with preference kept in its own column. Below is a downloadable sheet in CSV format that opens in any spreadsheet, the meaning of each column, and how to use it so that months of evaluations can be compared.
Download
Download the perfume evaluation sheet (CSV, 1 KB). It has seventeen columns and four example rows showing one trial evaluated at four time points. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and any text editor, and holds data only — no formulas or macros. The example rows are illustrative; delete them when you start your own.
The columns
| Column | What to enter | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Date, Evaluator | ISO date; initials | Evaluations drift with fatigue, season and person |
| Sample code | The blind code on the blotter or vial | Lets you evaluate without knowing which version it is |
| Formula code, Version | As in your formula records | Ties the observation to an exact formula |
| Trial or batch | The physical sample's own code | Two trials of one version can differ |
| Concentration % | Of the sample evaluated | Strength changes character |
| Medium | Blotter or skin (and where) | The two behave differently |
| Time point | From a fixed schedule — for example 0–5 min, 30 min, 2 h, 6 h | Comparisons only work at the same time point |
| Intensity (0–5) | On a scale you always use | Separates "strong" from "good" |
| Family, Facets | Broad family, then two or three specific qualities | The description itself |
| Texture and temperature | Dry or juicy, sharp or round, cool or warm | Captures what facets miss |
| Change since last check | What appeared, faded or shifted | The evolution is often the problem |
| Preference (−2 to +2) | Your liking, on its own | Kept apart so it does not color the description |
| Compared with | The reference sample beside it | Evaluation is comparison |
| Decision or next action | Keep, reject, or what to change next | Turns notes into a revision |
The structure follows the method in how to evaluate a perfume formula, and the description columns follow how to describe a scent.
How to use it well
- One row per sample per time point. A trial smelled at four times is four rows. That makes filtering by time point possible.
- Always evaluate against a reference — usually the previous version — and name it in "Compared with".
- Use blind codes where you can; ask someone else to dip and code blotters.
- Fill it in at the time, not from memory at the end of the day.
- End each evaluation with a decision, even if the decision is "no change; wait for maceration".
Reading the sheet later
Because every row has the same columns, the sheet becomes searchable data:
- Filter by formula code to see every evaluation of a project, in order.
- Filter by time point to compare versions where they differ most — often the drydown.
- Sort by preference within a version to see whether different evaluators agree.
Keep the sheet alongside the formula versions it refers to; the reasons for each change belong in the version's change record too, as described in perfume formula version control. If you prefer a notebook, the same columns work as a printed form; see the perfume lab notebook.
Adapting it
- Add columns for projection and longevity if you run wear tests; see how to test perfume longevity and sillage.
- Add a client feedback column for submissions, keyed by sample number.
- Keep the column names stable once you have data; renaming columns later breaks comparisons.
This sheet is one of the record templates a lab needs; the formula template itself, with its own download, is in the perfume formula template.
Frequently asked questions
Why CSV rather than a formatted spreadsheet?
CSV opens everywhere, imports into most tools and survives changes of software. You can format it, add drop-down lists or convert it to a spreadsheet file once it is open.
Can I use it for raw materials as well as formulas?
Yes — leave the formula columns blank and put the material and its dilution in the sample columns. For material tenacity specifically, see measuring a material's tenacity on a blotter.
Written and reviewed by the RUŌOD Lab team. This article is general education about perfume formulation and record-keeping; it is not legal, regulatory or safety advice, and the examples are illustrations, not validated commercial formulas. How we write and check these guides.