Methods for determining determinants of an odorant, such as character, intensity and stability, are described. Odorant character is determined based on the vibrational spectra of the odorant,
odor intensity is determined based on
zinc-binding affinity, and stability is based on an analysis of the odorant in a particular environment. The methods described herein permit one to design novel odorant molecules with increased
zinc-
binding ability, with all other things such as size volatility and hydrophobicity being equal, to increase the intensity of an odorant derivative relative to a parent odorant from which it is derived. Combinatorial libraries of odorants (“odotopic libraries”) to be evaluated for
odor character and intensity are also disclosed, as are high
throughput methods of evaluating these compounds. Further, methods for identifying an odorant with similar
odor character but with improved intensity, stability or other improved physical and / or chemical properties are disclosed.