Breath-YU: A Chewing–Breathing Coupled System Mimicking Oral and Nasal Cavities for Retronasal Aroma Sensing

This study presents Breath-YU, a novel chewing–breathing simulation system equipped with an artificial oral–nasal cavity, designed to objectively identify retronasal aromas. Retronasal perception, which occurs when volatile compounds migrate from the oral to the nasal cavity during mastication, plays a vital role in flavor recognition but is challenging to quantify due to individual variability. To overcome this, Breath-YU mechanically replicates human jaw motion and synchronizes airflow to enable consistent aroma release. Real-time detection of volatile compounds is achieved using integrated gas sensors. Identification experiments using gummy samples with varying flavoring types and concentrations demonstrated objective quantification capabilities superior to human sensory evaluation, where 7 participants could rank the samples by intensity. These findings indicate that Breath-YU offers a promising platform for objective sensory analysis and the development of flavor-oriented food products.