Sensory Details in Product Reviews: What AI Considers Authentic

Sensory details—descriptions of how things feel, look, sound, smell, or taste—are powerful Experience signals in EEAT because they're nearly impossible to fake without real interaction. Generic reviews describe features; authentic reviews describe experiences. When you write “the keyboard has a satisfying tactile bump at 45g actuation” instead of “the keyboard is good,” you're demonstrating physical interaction.

What Are Sensory Details? #

Sensory details describe experiences through the five senses:

Touch/Tactile #

• Texture: smooth, rough, grainy, slippery, sticky
• Temperature: warm, cool, cold, hot
• Weight: heavy, light, substantial, featherweight
• Pressure: firm, soft, springy, resistant
• Physical feedback: clicky, mushy, tactile, linear

Visual #

• Color accuracy: vibrant, muted, accurate, oversaturated
• Brightness: bright, dim, blinding, subtle
• Clarity: sharp, blurry, crisp, hazy
• Finish: glossy, matte, reflective, brushed

Auditory #

• Volume: loud, quiet, whisper-quiet, deafening
• Quality: tinny, full, boomy, balanced
• Character: sharp, mellow, harsh, warm
• Physical sounds: clicky, thocky, rattly, solid

Smell (When Relevant) #

• New product smell: plasticky, chemical, fresh
• Food/beverage: aromatic, earthy, fruity
• Materials: leather, wood, metallic

Why Sensory Details Signal Authenticity #

Sensory descriptions are hard to fabricate because:

• They require physical access: You can't describe how something feels without touching it
• They're subjective: Each person's sensory experience is unique
• They're specific: Generic descriptions (“feels good”) vs. detailed (“smooth with slight give”)
• They're hard for AI to generate: LLMs struggle with convincing sensory fabrication

Sensory Vocabulary by Product Type #

Tech Products #

KEYBOARDS: clicky, tactile, linear, mushy, thocky, rattly, 
           smooth, scratchy, springy, heavy

DISPLAYS: vibrant, punchy, accurate, oversaturated, washed out,
          bright, dim, crisp, sharp, glossy, matte

BUILD: solid, creaky, plasticky, premium, sturdy, flimsy,
       cold (metal), warm (plastic), heavy, light

AUDIO: tinny, boomy, balanced, muddy, clear, harsh, warm,
       spacious, narrow, detailed

Physical Products #

FABRIC: soft, scratchy, smooth, textured, breathable, stiff,
        silky, rough, cottony, synthetic

LEATHER: supple, stiff, smooth, grainy, cold, warm,
         plasticky, genuine

METAL: cold, smooth, brushed, polished, lightweight, heavy,
       solid, hollow

FURNITURE: firm, soft, supportive, sagging, squeaky, solid,
           wobbly, sturdy

Food & Beverage #

TEXTURE: crispy, chewy, tender, tough, creamy, grainy,
         smooth, crunchy, flaky

TASTE: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami, rich, bland,
       complex, one-note

AROMA: fragrant, earthy, fruity, smoky, fresh, stale,
       pungent, subtle

Before and After Examples #

Laptop Review #

Before (Generic):

The MacBook Pro has excellent build quality and a great 
keyboard. The display is very good.

After (Sensory-Rich):

The aluminum chassis feels cold to the touch and has 
zero flex when pressed. The keyboard has a satisfying 
tactile bump with quiet, dampened sound—noticeably less 
clacky than my previous ThinkPad. The display is almost 
too bright at max settings, with colors that pop more 
than my calibrated external monitor.

Headphone Review #

Before (Generic):

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are comfortable and sound great 
with excellent noise cancellation.

After (Sensory-Rich):

The ear cups have plush, cool protein leather that 
doesn't get sweaty during 4-hour sessions. The clamping 
force is lighter than the XM4—noticeable relief on my 
glasses frames. Sound signature is warm with slightly 
boosted bass that rumbles on EDM tracks. The noise 
cancellation creates an almost eerie silence—I can't 
hear my mechanical keyboard two feet away.

Office Chair Review #

Before (Generic):

The Herman Miller Aeron is comfortable and supportive 
for long work sessions.

After (Sensory-Rich):

The mesh seat has a slight springiness that keeps you 
from sinking. After 8 hours, there's no hot spot—the 
mesh breathes unlike my old leather chair. The lumbar 
support has firm pressure that I initially thought was 
too aggressive but grew to appreciate. The armrests have 
a slightly textured surface that prevents slipping.

Best Practices for Sensory Writing #

Be Specific, Not Vague #

Vague: “It feels premium.”

Specific: “The brushed aluminum has a subtle texture under fingertips, and the weight feels substantial without being heavy.”

Use Comparisons #

Comparisons make sensory descriptions more relatable:

• “Softer than memory foam but firmer than down”
• “About as heavy as a hardcover book”
• “The click sounds like snapping a pencil, not a typewriter”

Add Context #

Context makes sensory details more useful:

• “Gets warm (40°C surface temp) after 30 minutes of gaming”
• “The fan noise is noticeable in a quiet room”
• “The keys feel mushier compared to my mechanical keyboard”

Quantity Guidelines #

Common Mistakes #

Overusing the Same Descriptors #

Bad: “The build is solid. The keyboard feels solid. The screen is solidly attached.”

Vary your vocabulary to maintain credibility.

Irrelevant Sensory Details #

Bad: “The software has a smooth interface.”

Software doesn't have physical texture. Use appropriate language: “responsive,” “fluid animations.”

Exaggeration #

Bad: “The most comfortable chair ever created.”

Extreme claims undermine credibility. Be descriptive without hyperbole.

Frequently Asked Questions #

How do I add sensory details to software reviews? #

Focus on the experience of using software: response time (snappy, laggy), animations (smooth, choppy), visual design (clean, cluttered). Describe your physical interaction—mouse movements, keyboard shortcuts, how it feels to navigate.

Can I have too many sensory details? #

Yes. Every sentence being sensory-focused becomes exhausting. Balance sensory descriptions with factual information, comparisons, and analysis. Aim for sensory details in key sections: build quality, comfort, sound, user experience.

About the Author

Yue Zhu@Seenos.ai

Product Manager at Seenos.ai. Pioneer in AEO research since 2024, exploring the convergence of SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Led multiple AI-powered content optimization projects that achieved 300%+ citation increases in ChatGPT and Perplexity.