Preference of the Mouthwash Ingredients Wild Cosmos Leaf Extract (Cosmos Caudatus) among Organoleptic Test Panelists

Kenikir leaves are one of the traditional medicines used in Indonesia, yet only some studies investigate the compounds tested against them. This study aimed to evaluate Kenikir leaves as mouthwash with organoleptic tests and determine the differences in preferences. This type of research is quasi-experimental. The sample size is 32 people as organoleptic test panelists. The parameters were the color, smell, and taste of Kenikir leaf extract mouthwash material with original, mint, and mixed fruit flavors with a hedonic scale with ethnic groups of Jawa, Flores, Lombok, Bali, and Timor. The study results showed that regarding the color, the panelists preferred the mixed fruit color, with a p = 0.032 (p <0.05). Regarding the smell, the panelists preferred the mixed fruit with p = 0.019 (p <0.05). The panelists preferred the taste of mouthwash ingredients with mint flavor, but the assessment difference was insignificant at p = 0.276 (p> 0.05). Timor people like the product most. Meanwhile, the Flores ethnic group hardly likes all mouthwash products with Kenikir leaf extract. In conclusion, most preferred organoleptic test panelists of mouthwash ingredients are mouthwash ingredients with mixed fruit aroma/smell, color, and mint flavor.