Odor

Odor in foreign trade specifically refers to abnormal smells produced by goods due to their own materials, production processes, or improper packaging, commonly found in textiles, plastic products, food, and chemicals. It differs from the neutral term 'smell' and usually carries negative connotations, potentially indicating quality defects, warehouse contamination, or violation of environmental standards. Usage scenarios include: contract quality clauses (e.g., 'no abnormal odor'), inspection reports (e.g., 'pungent odor detected'), customer complaints (e.g., 'goods have a musty smell'), and return claims. Precautions: first, specify the exact type and degree of odor to avoid subjective judgment; second, different countries have different tolerance levels for odor, e.g., the EU has strict regulations on consumer product scents; third, odor may be introduced by packaging materials or transportation, so the responsible party must be identified. Unlike 'contamination,' odor does not necessarily involve harmful substances but may affect sales; opposite to 'fragrance,' odor is a defect to be eliminated. Foreign trade practitioners should stipulate odor inspection standards in contracts and retain sample evidence.