Comparison of the observed continuum ratios seen in CONs (12.7/11.3 μm vs. 6.2/11.3 μm) to those computed from the smooth CYGNUS models by Efstathiou & Rowan-Robinson (1995) and Efstathiou et al. (2021). The black squares correspond to the observed values of the CONs. The green star represents a normal star-forming galaxy. Colour-coded circle symbols represent the torus inclination angle and equatorial optical depth (τ_1000 Å) in the top and bottom panels, respectively. The purple square denotes the region where CON-dominated sources are located and defined by the continuum flux ratios: cont(11.3 μm)/cont(6.2 μm) > 2.5 and cont(11.3 μm)/cont(12.7 μm) > 2.5. The dashed grey line corresponds to a track of simulated spectra for galaxies containing a CON varying contributions of the host galaxy as presented in Fig. 5.