Hendrik Zwaardemaker

Hendrik Zwaardemaker
Born 10 May 1857
Haarlem
Died 19 September 1930
Utrecht
Nationality Dutch
Fields Physiology
Institutions University of Utrecht
An illustration of Zwaardemaker's olfactometer.

Hendrik Zwaardemaker (10 May 1857 in Haarlem – 19 September 1930 in Utrecht)[1] was a Dutch scientist who invented the olfactometer in 1888.[2]

From 1897 to 1927 he was professor of Experimental Physiology at the University of Utrecht. In addition to his work on the sense of smell, he also conducted research on the human heart. He found that salts of potassium and other radioactive elements stimulated the heart.[3] His major work was "Die Physiologie des Geruchs" (Physiologie of Olfaction), it appeared in 1895.

Zwaardemaker Pairs

An important contribution of Zwaardemaker's studies is the concept of odor conjugates. Zwaardemaker discovered that certain odors could be prevented from detection by smell senses when mixed with various essential oils. These combination of odors are referred to as Zwaardemaker Pairs, (or Z-pairs).

Offensive Odor Common Odor Sources Z-Pair Essential Oil Active Ingredient
Butyric acid Vomit, Flesh Decomposition, Rancid Dairy Products Juniper Oil
Chlorine Vanilla Vanillin
Ammonia Urine Rose Oil Ionone
Tobacco Cigarette Smoke Wintergreen Oil Methyl salicylate
Musk Bitter Almond oil Benzaldehyde
Rubber Cedar Oil
Skatole Feces, Coal tar Cedar Oil
Mercaptan Natural Gas Eucalyptus Oil Eucalyptol

References

  1. ↑ A. K. M. Noyons. Hendrik Zwaardemaker: 1857-1930. The American Journal of Psychology, Vol. 43, No. 3 (Jul., 1931), pp. 525-526
  2. ↑ Eibenstein, A. et al. (July 2005). "Modern psychophysical tests to assess olfactory function". Neurological Sciences 26 (3): 147–155. doi:10.1007/s10072-005-0452-3. ISSN 1590-1874. PMID 16086127. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  3. ↑ "Heart Radioactivity". Time. December 9, 1929. Retrieved 2007-01-15.