ABSTRACT A dense membrane (MS) based on vinyl polymers and containing a pyrylium salt [2,6‐diphenyl‐4( p ‐methacryloyloxy)phenylpyryliumtetrafluoroborate] was prepared. The MS has hydrophilic and sensory properties that make it a good material for the selective colorimetric detection of trimethylamine (TMA) vapors, a biogenic amine of great importance in food safety. The polymeric sensor changes from yellow to an intense pink color with increasing concentrations of TMA. The material could be reused in the presence of HCl vapors for at least 10 times. The detection and quantification limits were determined by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (4.42 and 13.40 ppm, respectively) and by the RGB parameters of digital color (3.37 and10.22 ppm, respectively). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135 , 46185.