Terms of Service
Welcome to Flavor Index Lab. By using this site, you agree to these terms. If you don’t agree, that’s fine — but please don’t use the site.
What This Site Is
Flavor Index Lab is a condiment review and education site operated by one person (Phil). Everything published here — reviews, guides, scores, tier assignments, and recommendations — represents my personal opinions based on my own testing methodology.
My Content, Your Use
All content on flavorindexlab.com — text, images, scoring frameworks, and the overall site design — is my original work and is protected by copyright. You’re welcome to:
- Read and share — link to any page, share on social media, reference my reviews in your own content with proper attribution.
- Quote briefly — short excerpts with a link back to the original page are fine.
You may not:
- Reproduce full articles or substantial portions of my content on other sites without written permission.
- Use my product photos on other sites without written permission.
- Scrape the site or use automated tools to copy content in bulk.
- Repackage my reviews, scores, or tier assignments as your own.
If you want to use my content beyond what’s described above, contact me at hello@flavorindexlab.com. I’m usually reasonable about this.
Reviews and Recommendations
My reviews are honest assessments based on my personal testing. A few things to understand:
- Opinions, not guarantees. My tier ratings are based on my palate, my methodology, and my criteria. Your experience may differ. A product I rate EXCELLENT might not suit your taste, and a product I rate SKIP might be exactly what you’re looking for.
- One person’s palate. I’m one person with one set of taste preferences. I try to be systematic and fair, but I’m not claiming objectivity — I’m claiming consistency and transparency about my methodology.
- Products change. Manufacturers reformulate products, change ingredients, and adjust recipes. My review reflects the product as I tested it on a specific date. If a product changes significantly after my review, I’ll update the review when I become aware of it.
- Not nutritional or medical advice. I note ingredients, sodium content, and allergen concerns where relevant, but I’m not a nutritionist, doctor, or dietitian. If you have dietary restrictions or health concerns, read the product label yourself and consult a qualified professional.
Affiliate Links
Some links on this site are affiliate links. See my full Affiliate Disclosure for details. The short version: I may earn a commission if you buy through my links, at no extra cost to you, and it never influences my scores.
Third-Party Links
When I link to retailers, brands, or other sites, I’m not responsible for their content, products, privacy practices, or terms of service. Once you leave flavorindexlab.com, you’re operating under their rules, not mine.
Comments and User Submissions
If and when I enable comments or accept user submissions (guest posts, reader reviews, etc.):
- You’re responsible for what you post.
- I reserve the right to remove comments that are spam, abusive, or off-topic.
- By submitting content, you grant me permission to display it on the site.
Limitation of Liability
Flavor Index Lab is a review site. I’m sharing opinions about condiments, not providing professional services. I’m not liable for any damages arising from your use of this site, your reliance on my reviews, or your decision to purchase (or not purchase) any product I cover. If a chili crisp ruins your shirt, that’s between you and the chili crisp.
Changes to These Terms
I may update these terms as the site grows. When I do, I’ll update the “last updated” date at the top of this page. Continued use of the site after changes means you accept the updated terms.
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.