Innovative Hedonic Testing: The Inherited Preference ( <scp>iPref</scp> ) Approach in Consumer Sciences

ABSTRACT Hedonic methods are essential for understanding consumer preferences based on sensory pleasure. Common approaches include ranking, paired‐preference tests, and hedonic rating tasks. This study introduces Inherited Preference (iPref), a novel methodology that combines these techniques into a fast and intuitive protocol. In a lab setting, 90 participants evaluated five types of plain crisps. At each step, they selected their preferred product, which was retained for the next comparison, progressively identifying their favorite. They also rated the appreciation difference between each pair. At the end of the session, the final product was rated using a hedonic scale. These data allowed the calculation of an Inherited Liking (IL) score for each product at the individual level. The iPref protocol thus integrates preference and liking assessments, providing a new way of acquiring data on consumer preferences.