this invention relates to a method that can be used to scientifically fabricate pseudoscents of explosives , which , in their entirety , are comprised of non - energetic materials . it also discloses specific compositions of such pseudoscents , which can be used as energetically - inert - but - odoriferously - identical simulants for a range of explosives and are comprised of non - energetic components of the scent signature of an explosive and / or energetic scent components of the same headspace scent signature that have been rendered non - energetic . the scents achievable by the groups of formulations generated by this method encompass the different types of military and commercial explosives , and the components within the pseudoscents can be tuned to generate simulants representative of different qualities and quantities of such explosives . these explosive - scent simulants can be used to bolster existing explosive detecting dog training programs , establish new training paradigms in canine , rodent , insect , and other creature explosive detection and training and , in some cases , increase the efficiencies of analytical instruments that rely on the phenomenon of vapor sampling to detect explosive materials .