Product Design
Expert Terminology for Impact and Strength
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MEMORANDUM
Novemne
T0: Mr. Richard Smith
FROM: A. B. Hudson
SUBJECT:- Expert Terminology for Impact and Strength
Dr. Spears informed me, after reading the memo to you
dated-October 26, that I should have included a more detailed
description of ' impact' and 'strength'.
In order to do this, and make it understandable, a base
of communication must first be established. Therefore, listed-
belaw are our definitions of-the various typcs of impact and
strength-characteristics of- a cigarette.
Taste Impact - Degree-of immediate and residual percep-
tion of the -taste characteristics in the oral and nasal areas.
Chest and Throat Impact - Degree of immediate perception
on a partict:lar- part of the oral-or respiratory system. A
high degree will cause a choking sensation comparable to-in-
haling strong cigar smoke.
Physiological- Strength - The -degree of physiological
effect caused by the alkaloids-(nicotine, etc.) in the smoke.
Excessive strength will cause a smoker to experience a dizzy
or "heady" effect.
Pepperiness - A warm, spicy_sen5ation-perceived al-most
totally in the mouth.
Irritation - Essentially self-explanatory, comparable to
a roughness-or scratchiness perceived in_the mouth, nose or
throat.
Overall Strength - Amplitude of perception of either
smoke and/or flavor components in the oral and bronchial areas.
Overall strength-is a combination- of throat, chest, taste and
physiological impact. p
l.+
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Mr. Richard Smith --2- - November 2, 1973
It should be po-inted out that none of these characteristics
are considered to be objectionable if they are present in the
smoke at an acceptable level. However, for a-cigarette to be
acceptable the irritation level could not be as high as, for_
ir.star_ce, the pepperiness-level. Because pepperiness is gen-
erally considered to be an acceptable taste characteristic
whereas ir_itation is generally considered to be an unaccept-
able- characteristic.
It-should also be remembered that a cigarette can be-
strong and smooth, or one_can-be mild and-irritating. In
other words, strength is not necessarily directly proportional
to the irritation level or the various types of=impact. it
-is also possible to have a cigarette with high throat impact
and low chest impact,_but generally there will be some overall
correlation between strength and the various types of impact.
If this is somewhat confusing, hopefully the following
descriptionsof the impact_characteristics of various production
cigarettes will provide a clarification: -
KENT - Slightly irritating to nose and throat, peppery and
spicy sensation in the mouth, moderate or temperate
throat impact, gentle or mild chest impact, slight
hay-like char-acter. Taste - sweet, spicy,- peppery,
with flavor-tobacco balance.
TRUE BLUE - Slightly more irritating to nose and throat,
and slightly more peppery than Kent, moderate throat
impact and very mild-che-st impact. Taste - warm
sweet, extremely spicy (balsamic), peppery, flavor
notes mask tobacco taste.
NEWPORT - Very slight sharp menthol irritation in nose-and
throat, moderately high throat and chest impact.
Taste - moderate menthol impact, moderately high
tobacco taste with underlying sweet flavor notes.
OLD GOLD FILTER - Moderately high level of irri_tation-and
pepperine-ss, moderately high throat and chest impact.
Taste-- tobacco taste with Turkish undertones, woody,
slight hay-like residual_character.
WINSTON - Irritation and impact levels are comparable to
OGF, however, the peppery character is greater.
Taste - tobacco, slightly sweet, woody, citrus with
Turkish undertones and sweet lingering residual taste.

If
Mr. Richard Sm.ith - -2- November 2, 1973
:-IARLBORO - IMLoderate throat impact, high chest impact,
moderate level of irritation, pepperiness less-
- than Winston -or - OOr. Taste - high tobacco and
Turkish character with moderate s-weer-woody note,
also moderate residual taste.
Sample 9075 =:•Ioderately high throat and moderate to high
chest impact, iow level of irritation and pepperiness.
Taste - high tobacco with moderately high Turkish-
character, low to moderate sweet,-sour, citrus, - -
woody notes and moderate residual taste.
KOOL - High throat and chest impact, very harsh and
irritating, high physiological impact. Taste - deep;
burley tobacco-note,- sweet, balanced-tobacco-menthol
character.
Sample 9036- - High throat-and chest impact, high level of
harshness and irritation, high physiological impact.
Taste - deep, burley tobacco note,-sweet, menthol
with good balance.
Sam_ple 9080 - Essentially the same as 9036 with possibly
a slightly higher physiological impact.
A. B. Hudson
ABH:gm
x.c._Dr. A. W. Spears
Mr. C. L. Tucker
Mr. R. Ave -
Mr. J. H. Smith
Ms. Mary Ann Riffon
