The Scoville scale is a measure of the hotness of a chilli pepper. These fruits of the Capsicum genus contain capsaicin, a chemical compound which stimulates thermoreceptor nerve endings in the tongue, and the number of Scoville heat units (SHU) indicates the amount of capsaicin present. Many hot sauces use their Scoville rating in advertising as a selling point.
It is named after Wilbur Scoville, who developed the Scoville Organoleptic Test in 19121. As originally devised, a solution of the pepper extract is diluted in sugar water until the 'heat' is no longer detectable to a panel of (usually five) tasters; the degree of dilution gives its measure on the Scoville scale. Thus a sweet pepper, containing no capsaicin at all, has a Scoville rating of zero, meaning no heat detectable even undiluted. Conversely, the hottest chiles, such as habaneros, have a rating of 300,000 or more, indicating that their extract has to be diluted 300,000-fold before the capsaicin present is undetectable. 15 Scoville units is equivalent to one part capsaicin per million. Thus the highest concentration of pure 100% capsaicin corresponds to 15,000,000 Scoville units. The greatest weakness of the Scoville Organoleptic Test is its imprecision, because it relies on human subjectivity.
Later analytical developments such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (also known as the "Gillett Method") have now enabled the Scoville rating to be determined by direct measurement of capsaicin rather than sensory methods.
Scoville ratings may vary considerably within a speciesโeasily by a factor of 10 or moreโdepending on seed lineage, climate and even soil. This is especially true of habaneros. In addition the measurement process itself is imprecise: a food industry source says that "the coefficient of error is 50% for the Scoville method and less than 12% for the HPLC method"2
When your anus has a hangover from eating something very spicy that you aren't used to (especially something high on the scoville scale). You get spicy butt. The butt and rectum feels spicy. You may also get cap cramps.
Ethan: "Did you see Tyler bought a new jet ski? Looks like his business is really starting to take off."
Kyle: "Nah dude Tyler is just being a Scovill, he's a little bitch who's parents gave him everything. He would be working at Home Depot if he wasnt born with a silver spoon in his ass."
A natural state of euphoria caused by elevated endorphine levels from consuming hot chili peppers. Taken from the Scoville Scale, a test for measuring the hotness or piquancy of a chili pepper.