Building 42 Wrest Park Silsoe BEDFORD Bedfordshire MK45 4HP
01525 860222
info@silsoeodours.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an odour consultancy?

Silsoe Odours is a leading UK odour consultancy. We provide a wide range of odour services to support your planning, permitting and operational compliance needs. Our work is independent, and we hold UKAS accreditation for odour sampling and testing. So, the odour insights we provide are informative and trusted by clients, planning authorities and regulators.

What odour services are available?

Our experienced odour consultants offer industry-leading technical expertise and a comprehensive range of odour services. We will tailor our work for your specific needs, depending on the intricacies of your site.

Our team provide odour impact assessments such as sniff surveys, dispersion modelling, odour assessments and smoke testing. While each offers a different approach to meet your specific objectives, they all provide an overview of the potential impact your odour emissions may have on the local community.

Typically, odour sampling surveys provide the most comprehensive snapshot of the impact of odour emissions on nearby receptors. We will collect samples from identifiable sources and return them to our UKAS accredited laboratory for testing.

At the Silsoe Odours laboratory, fully trained odour panellists assess odour samples using olfactometry. We can test odours for their concentration, intensity, characterisation, and hedonic tone. We are also able to provide chemical analysis and odour detection information.

What is olfactometry?

Olfactometry is a process used to test odour samples using a scientific device called an olfactometer. Using the olfactometer, we dilute an odorous sample to a known concentration. We then present this sample to our specialist odour panellists for assessment. Our odour panel contains six odour panellists. We rigorously select, screen and train odour panellists according to the requirements of European Standard BSEN13725:2022. Using olfactometry, we can provide data on an odour’s concentration, intensity, characterisation, and hedonic tone. In addition, we provide chemical analysis and odour detection information.

Why do I need to monitor odour?

Generally, there are four main reasons why you might need to assess odour. Firstly, to provide independent data to support an application for planning permission or environmental permits. Secondly, as part of your operational compliance with environmental permits. Next, to validate odour complaints. Finally, to confirm the performance efficiency of your odour abatement systems. Our odour experts have extensive experience across all these objectives and can work with you to find the right odour service for your needs.

How much does an odour survey cost?

The cost of your odour survey will depend upon the scope, intricacy, and location of your specific project. Our odour consultants offer a friendly, responsive service and will work with you to identify the right odour service to suit your needs.

How long does it take to complete an odour assessment?

The duration of an odour assessment will depend on the scope of your project. Sometimes, a simple desktop assessment may be appropriate. At other times, you may need odour sampling or sniff surveys completed over several visits, to give a clear picture of the impact of your odour emissions. We will discuss this with you when scoping the project, and develop a plan that suits your needs.

Why choose Silsoe Odours?

Silsoe Odours is a leading independent UK odour consultancy and laboratory. Our consultants provide unrivalled technical expertise and offer decades of experience in odour measurement, analysis, and management. We also have experience across many different industry sectors. The quality of our work is supported by the UKAS accreditations we hold for odour testing and sampling.

We are a small, family-led team based in Bedfordshire. As a result, we offer a friendly, responsive, and personal service that cannot be matched.

Where can Silsoe Odours provide odour services?

Our odour consultants can provide odour services throughout the UK and Ireland. Our odour laboratory is in Silsoe, Bedfordshire with good transport links to both Luton Airport and the M1 motorway.

What do clients say about Silsoe Odours?

Our odour consultant have extensive experience across many sectors. We work with operators, consultants and regulators. As a result, we have lots of examples of great feedback from our clients, which you can find on our testimonials page.

Silsoe Odours have a great reputation and so I asked them to conduct olfactometric sampling for me. I found them to be very independent and easy to work with. They know what needs to be done and they get on with it. I intend to use Silsoe Odours again and recommend them for odour projects.
Ryan Boakes, Phlorum

I have engaged Silsoe Odours for a series of odour investigations relating to ongoing legal proceedings with a neighbour at one of our sites. The team are always professional and willing to oblige. I would be happy to recommend their services.
Roddy McDonald, Scottish Water

I have worked with the odour consultants at Silsoe Odours for several years. I use them for sampling and odour analysis in preference to other competitors, as I appreciate their flexible and pragmatic approach.
Associate, Air Quality & Emissions Consultancy

Silsoe Odours were recommended to me by colleagues, as they are always very good and knowledgeable. I engaged them for emissions monitoring of an oil/fuel depot and had a good experience. Their odour consultants arrived at site as arranged and completed the work efficiently and effectively.
Liam Shelmerdine, Redmore Environmental

I have used Silsoe Odours on more than one occasion and most recently for an Odour Assessment associated with the submission of a Planning Application. Their team are professional with expertise in odour related matters. I would be happy to recommend their services.
Christian Smith, GP Planning Ltd

The odour consultants at Silsoe Odours are easy to work with. They are willing to go above and beyond to sort out small procedural issues, which have caused delays with other consultancies in the past. They offer a friendly service and make my life easy.
James Cooper, Envar