Relationships between individual flavour attributes of eight hard-type cheeses and their volatile compounds, free amino acids (FAA), free fatty acids (FFA) and gross compositional constituents were determined. Relationships were also determined between individual texture attributes and gross compositional constituents. A trained panel of 15 assessors described the sensory characteristics of the cheeses using eight odour, twenty flavour, four appearance and nine texture attributes. Volatile compounds were isolated using, a model-mouth device. FAA, FFA and gross compositional constituents were determined using standard methods. Relationships were determined by using partial least squares regression coupled with a new jack-knife method for identification and elimination of non-contributing variables. Eight flavour attributes were found to be correlated with subsets of volatile compounds, FAA, FFA and gross compositional constituents. For instance, the "nutty" flavour of Emmental was found to be positively correlated with the concentrations of propionic acid, ethyl acetate and 2-pentanone. "Nutty" flavour was negatively correlated with the concentrations of salt in moisture and pH 4.6-soluble nitrogen (pH 4.6-SN). Four texture attributes were correlated with subsets of gross compositional constituents, For example, "firmness" was positively correlated with concentrations of protein, calcium and phosphorous and negatively correlated with pH value and level of pH 4.6-SN. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.