Men typically smell the most in areas with high concentrations of apocrine sweat glands, primarily the armpits and the groin/genital region. These areas produce a thicker, nutrient-rich sweat that, when broken down by skin bacteria, creates a stronger, muskier odor, often described as “cheesy” due to specific fatty acids.
When sweat from your apocrine glands mixes with the natural bacteria living on your skin, it produces a musky body odor. “Males have more apocrine glands in their genital region, so the musk scent is stronger there,” says Dr. Bajic. Your genetics, age and even the foods you eat can also affect the way your body smells.
At the University of Kent, researchers had men sniff sweat samples from women. Half the women were watching erotic videos, the other half watched neutral clips. The sweat from the turned-on women wasn't just rated as more attractive, it made the men hornier themselves.
Sweating and body odor most often affect the underarm and groin areas, the palms, the bottom of the feet, and the head, face and scalp. It's common for some people to sweat more or less than other people. Body odor also can vary from person to person. It might smell tangy, oniony, sour or some other strong odor.
Wet and smelly knickers often stem from sweat, normal vaginal discharge (especially around ovulation/pregnancy), or minor urine leakage, mixing with bacteria and trapped moisture, but can signal infections like Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) or UTIs, especially with itching or color/smell changes. Wearing breathable cotton underwear, practicing good hygiene, and seeing a doctor for persistent odor or unusual discharge are key steps.
The Best Deodorants: According to Female Sniff Tests
Can others smell me if I smell myself?
Remove your clothes and smell them
Sweat usually means you've become a love environment for bacteria growth, and bacteria is what gives off the stench. Go by the golden rule of body odor: If you can smell any odor on yourself at all, others can smell it a lot more.
During puberty, increased hormone production, especially in teenagers, often leads to stronger body odor. Later in life, hormonal shifts—particularly during menopause in women—can also affect body odor.
The "old lady smell," or "old people smell," is scientifically known as nonenal odor, caused by a chemical compound called 2-nonenal, which forms as the skin ages, creating a distinct greasy, grassy, or musty scent due to the breakdown of fatty acids and declining antioxidants, not poor hygiene.
What is a girls private area supposed to smell like?
A slightly tangy or sour aroma, similar to the smell of some fermented foods, is normal. This is due to the presence of the “lactobacilli” bacteria that dominates most healthy vaginas.
Female arousal is triggered by a complex mix of mental, emotional, and physical factors, often starting in the mind with feelings of safety, emotional connection, and trust, rather than just physical touch, requiring a calm and secure environment. Stimuli like sights, sounds, smells, or fantasies create initial desire, which then leads to physical responses like genital engorgement and lubrication, driven by hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine.
Why do guys act different after you sleep with them?
Men are less likely than women to seek intimate moments in the days after sex, which might explain why he seems distant. If he seems detached or moody afterward, he may be processing his own feelings, just as you're processing yours. Give him a day or two to work through it.
And we're not just talking hypotheticals. The smells that trigger the strongest “cringe” include decomposition, rotten eggs, rotting meat, urine and feces, spoiled fish, dead animals, open sewers, decaying vegetables, mold, and sour milk.
Typically, semen has a light bleach or ammonia-like smell due to its slightly alkaline pH. A strong or foul odor can be a red flag for infections such as bacterial prostatitis or STIs. A sweet smell may signal abnormal glucose levels concerning for diabetes.
Androstenol, found in fresh male sweat, is attractive to women. Men and women are attracted to the pheromones they produce and HLA is related to the perceptions of other peoples' odours. Men produce androstenol and androstenone.
According to a study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Oxford University, the most pleasant scent is vanilla , followed by peach . The list also includes scents like freshly cut grass, coffee, chocolate, and the sea .
Frequently referred to as whale vomit, ambergris is a rare substance excreted by sperm whales. Laws regarding the collection and trade of ambergris vary throughout the world. While the ambergris is not thought to harm sperm whales, the animals are considered an endangered species.
Offensive odor refers to undesirable smells in the atmosphere that can be neutralized or immobilized through chemical or physical deodorization methods. These odors are often caused by volatile compounds that can be absorbed or decomposed by various materials or processes.
“Old person smell” isn't tied to a specific age, but it can begin as early as 40. That's when the body might start producing more 2-nonenal, a compound linked to aging-related scent changes.
Puberty makes teenagers' armpits smell of cheese, goat and even urine, scientists in Germany have discovered. The particular chemical compounds that make up pubescent body odour have been singled out, should anyone want to bottle “eau du teenager”.
Without enough B12, your metabolism can slow down, leading to more odor-causing byproducts being released through your sweat. Plus, B12 helps maintain healthy skin, which acts as a barrier to bacteria that cause bad smells. You can find B12 in foods like meat, eggs, and dairy, or through supplements.
No point hiding it. Men can smell women's fertile phase. A long-held belief among anthropologists is that there's no way to tell exactly when a human female is ovulating. Men hoping to catch her fertile phase, therefore, would have no option but to hang around--and not go gallivanting.
Persistent odor can stem from residual fecal matter, infection, or skin irritation. If you've been asking yourself, “Why does my butt stink?” or “My anus smells even after washing”, you might need to see a specialist to rule out underlying issues like hemorrhoids or skin conditions.
