Armpit Odor: What Is Its Purpose?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the purpose and characteristics of armpit odor, exploring its variations, potential attractiveness to mates, and the biological mechanisms behind it. Participants delve into the role of sweat glands, bacteria, and axillary hair, with a focus on both theoretical and observational aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses curiosity about the variety of smells associated with armpit odor and its potential purpose.
  • Another notes that the armpit contains a high concentration of bacteria compared to other body parts.
  • A participant explains the role of apocrine and eccrine glands in sweat production, highlighting that most armpit sweat is initially odorless and that bacteria contribute to the characteristic smell.
  • There is a question about whether armpit odor might enhance attractiveness to potential mates, with references to a study suggesting women may perceive odors differently depending on their menstrual cycle.
  • One participant challenges the idea of armpit odor having a purpose, suggesting it may simply be a by-product of bacterial activity.
  • A question is raised regarding the purpose of axillary hair, considering its potential to foster bacterial growth.
  • Another participant proposes that pheromones might be released from the armpits, but doubts that the smell resulting from bacterial breakdown is the attractant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the purpose of armpit odor, with some suggesting it may have a role in attraction while others argue it is merely a by-product. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific functions of armpit odor and axillary hair.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific studies that are not fully detailed, and there are unresolved questions about the implications of odor perception and the biological roles of sweat and hair in the armpit area.

recon
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I've got nothing to say, except to say that I'm curious and would like to know if armpit odor comes in a variety of smells. What purpose does this variance serve, if any?

I did a search on the internet, and could not find anything relevant except for A LOT of articles on botox, which in addition to being able to get rid of wrinkles, is now also used in the battle against armpit odor. : :redface: :redface: :eek:

I've not seen a thread on armpit odor before. I beseech all of you to post any interesting information on armpits here. Or ask a few questions.
 
Last edited:
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did u know that the armpit contains the most bacteria than any part of your external body?:p
 
Armpit odour, or axillary malodor, usually begins when you reach puberty, when your glands start working. There are two kinds of sweat glands in the human body, the apocrine glands, which secrete a milky fluid from the hair follicles, and the eccrine glands, which are the source of most perspiration. The sweat from the eccrine glands is water, which is used to cool the body by evaporation and to moisten the friction surfaces of the body.


Most axillary, or armpit, sweat is odourless, and comes from the eccrine glands. The small amount of apocrine secretion in the sweat, however, causes the problem.

Although fresh apocrine sweat is also odourless, it develops its characteristic smell when the sweat is broken down by the hair and skin cells in the armpit, and then eaten by bacteria.

It's actually the bacteria that make the smell, releasing a chemical called 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid.

About 90% of men and 70% of women have these bacteria in their armpit, and women produce a milder odour than men. Most people have trouble smelling their own odour without burying their nose in their own armpit ... probably because your brain filters out smells which are always present.

taken from here
 
Is it really true that armpit odour might contribute to making you more attractive to potential mates? If not, what is it purpose?
 
recon said:
Is it really true that armpit odour might contribute to making you more attractive to potential mates? If not, what is it purpose?

I no longer recall where it was published, but there was a study some time ago that tried to test this. IIRC, they had men wear t-shirts for a day, then asked women to smell the t-shirts and rank them on a scale that ranged from some degree of pleasantness to some degree of unpleasantness (sorry, it's been a long time since I've read it). When the women were ovulating, they ranked the shirts less unpleasant than at other stages of their cycle. But, it's worth noting they never ranked the odors as pleasant, just less unpleasant. The authors were trying to find evidence of pheromonal signals in humans. I don't really think armpit odors have a purpose, they're just a by-product of the bacteria hanging out in that area of the body.
 
So what is the purpose of axillary hair then? Doesn't this make the condition in the armpit even more suitable for bacteria growth?
 
Pheromones of some sort might be released from the armpits, but the smell of bacterial-broken down apocrine secretion certainly wouldn't be the attractant

The purpose of the axillary hair is to reduce friction and to aid in evaporation (the hairs are hollow).
 

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