The scent of a man, often referred to as a man’s natural body odor or musk, is produced by glands and bacteria on the skin. The main contributors to a man’s scent are:
Apocrine Sweat Glands
Apocrine sweat glands are located in areas dense with hair follicles like the armpits and groin. These glands produce sweat that contains pheromones and proteins. As the sweat interacts with bacteria on the skin, it produces body odor.
Where are apocrine sweat glands located?
In men, apocrine sweat glands are concentrated in the following areas:
- Armpits
- Groin
- Chest
- Back
- Genital area
- Buttocks
- Around the anus
- Nipples
- Beard area
What causes apocrine sweat to smell?
Apocrine sweat itself is odorless. The smell comes from bacteria on the skin that break down the proteins and fats in the sweat. This causes an unpleasant body odor. The armpits and groin have ideal conditions for bacteria growth making these areas more prone to body odor.
Eccrine Sweat Glands
Eccrine sweat glands cover most of the human body and open directly onto the surface of the skin. They produce a clear, watery sweat that doesn’t contain many nutrients for bacteria to feed on. However, in areas where eccrine glands are dense, like the palms, bottoms of the feet, and forehead, bacteria can still multiply and produce body odor if these areas are not cleaned regularly.
Where are eccrine sweat glands located?
In men, eccrine sweat glands are found all over the body, but are most concentrated in these areas:
- Forehead
- Palms
- Soles of the feet
How does eccrine sweat contribute to body odor?
Although eccrine sweat is mostly odorless, when large amounts are produced it can provide moisture for bacteria growth in areas like the groin, underarms, and feet. This is especially true if these areas are not cleaned regularly. The breakdown of eccrine sweat by bacteria produces an unpleasant smell.
Sebaceous Glands
Sebaceous glands are located across the entire body and produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum moisturizes the skin and hair and also contains pheromones. Bacteria around hair follicles, sweat glands, and pores feed on sebum and produce body odor.
Where are sebaceous glands located?
Sebaceous glands are found all over the body, but are highest in concentration on the scalp, face, upper chest, and back. Areas where sebaceous glands are dense include:
- Forehead
- Nose
- Eyelids
- Ears
- Upper back
- Chest
How does sebum contribute to body odor?
While sebum itself has a mild, waxy odor, bacteria that live on the skin consume sebum. This produces free fatty acids and causes a stronger, more unpleasant body odor. Areas with many sebaceous glands like the scalp, face, and chest become odorous if not cleaned regularly.
Genetics
A man’s genetics influence the concentration and activity of glands like apocrine sweat glands. Genetics also affect how much bacteria a man has on his skin that produces body odor when breaking down sweat and oils. Some men simply produce more sweat and skin oils that feed odor-causing bacteria.
| Gene Variants | Effect on Body Odor |
|---|---|
| ABCC11 | Reduces apocrine sweat production in armpits and groin |
| OR2J3 | Increases foot odor |
| OR5A1 | Increases volatile compounds in sweat |
As seen in the table, genetics play a strong role in how much and what kind of body odor a man produces.
How are genes inherited that affect body odor?
Genes are passed down from parents to offspring. If one or both parents have strong body odor, their sons are more likely to have increased sweating and similar microbial skin populations that also cause more intense odor.
Can gene variants be tested for body odor predisposition?
Yes, genetic testing like 23andMe can be done to identify gene variants associated with body odor characteristics. However, environmental factors like hygiene and diet also affect smell, so genetic testing alone cannot definitively predict someone’s body odor.
Diet
The food a man eats affects his body odor. Foods and nutrients influence sweat production and change compounds released in sweat that alter its smell. Some foods also odorize sweat as their metabolites are excreted.
How does diet change body odor?
Here are some examples of how diet impacts body odor:
- Spicy foods – Make sweat more acidic, which makes the smell stronger.
- Caffeine – Increases sweating, especially in the armpits.
- Alcohol – Changes sweat composition, often producing a yeasty smell.
- Red meat – Causes sweat to take on an onion-like odor.
- Fruits and veggies – Can make sweat smell “sweet.”
What foods make body odor better or worse?
Here is a table summarizing how certain foods affect body odor:
| Foods That Worsen Odor | Foods That Improve Odor |
|---|---|
| Red meat | Fruits and vegetables |
| Spicy foods | Yogurt |
| Garlic | Green tea |
| Curry | Parsley |
| Caffeine | Mint |
| Alcohol | Lemon |
As shown, strong-smelling foods often worsen odors, while fruits, herbs, and probiotics improve it.
Smoking
Smoking worsens body odor in a few ways:
- Tar and nicotine from cigarettes alter sweat composition.
- Smoking increases sweat production.
- Chemicals in cigarettes scent sweat.
For some men, smoking can leave an unpleasant “ashtray” like odor on clothes and skin that intermixes with their natural scent.
Does smoking permanently change body odor?
For heavy smokers, smoking can permanently alter their natural scent by changing sweat production and composition over many years. However, when someone quits smoking, their body odor will gradually return to normal.
Does secondhand smoke affect body odor?
Yes, even secondhand smoke can temporarily impact someone’s body odor. The chemicals penetrate clothing and scent skin and sweat. However, the effects are minimized as long as exposure is limited.
Hygiene
Body odor is largely affected by personal hygiene habits. When sweat, sebum, and dead skin cells accumulate on the body, it produces a stronger, more offensive odor as bacteria multiplies unchecked.
Regular bathing, changing clothes, washing clothes, applying deodorant, and cleaning areas like the feet mitigate most body odor. Men who practice good hygiene habits typically have little to no detectable body odor.
How often should the average man bathe?
Here are general bathing recommendations for men to avoid excessive body odor:
- Shower daily with soap and water.
- Use deodorant/antiperspirant on armpits and other sweat-prone areas daily.
- Wash feet daily.
- Change underwear, socks, and shirts daily.
- Wash bed linens and towels weekly.
Bathing once or twice a day is appropriate depending on a man’s activities and sweat levels.
What hygiene habits help control groin odor?
To control odor in the groin area:
- Wash groin thoroughly with soap in the shower.
- Change underwear daily.
- Wear breathable cotton underwear.
- Avoid restrictive clothing around the groin.
- Trim long pubic hair.
- Apply antiperspirant to inner thighs near groin.
Medical Conditions
In some cases, an underlying medical condition contributes to excessive or altered body odor in men. Some examples include:
| Medical Condition | Effect on Body Odor |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | Produces a sweet, fruity odor |
| Kidney disease | Causes a urine-like smell |
| Liver disease | Produces a musty, ammonia-like scent |
| Hyperthyroidism | Increases sweating and odor |
| Obesity | Increases sweating in folds leading to more bacteria growth |
If a man notices a significant change in his normal scent, it may be a sign of an underlying illness. Consulting a doctor can determine if that is the case.
How are medical conditions diagnosed that affect smell?
Doctors can perform tests on blood, urine, and sweat samples to look for biomarkers indicating diseases like diabetes that alter body odor. Analysis of sweat composition can also reveal abnormalities.
How are body odor-related illnesses treated?
Treating the underlying condition like kidney disease or hyperthyroidism will typically resolve abnormal body odor. Topical antibiotics, antiperspirants, diet changes, and antibacterial soaps can temporarily reduce odor while the disease is being cured.
Age
Body odor naturally changes somewhat as a man ages. Possible causes include:
- Hormone level changes affect sweat and sebum production.
- The skin microbiome changes.
- The body produces different metabolites as it ages.
For many men, their body odor becomes less intense as testosterone levels decrease with age. However, personal hygiene remains important.
At what age does male body odor decrease?
On average, a man’s body odor starts to decrease around age 50. This corresponds with a steady decline in testosterone levels by 1% or more per year after age 40.
Do elderly men require different hygiene habits?
Elderly men should continue practicing regular hygiene like bathing and wearing deodorant daily. Although their odor may change and perhaps lessen, allowing sweat, sebum and dead skin to accumulate can still produce unpleasant odors.
Conclusion
A man’s natural scent is the result of a complex interaction between compounds in sweat, sebum, and dead skin cells produced by his body interacting with skin bacteria. Genetics, diet, hygiene habits, age, and potential medical conditions all influence how a man smells.
While some men’s odors are stronger or more offensive than others due to differences in physiology and habits, practicing good hygiene by bathing and wearing deodorant daily can keep body odor under control. A healthy diet and avoiding smoking can also help minimize unpleasant scents.
Body odor is a natural process that shouldn’t be an excessive source of self-consciousness with proper management. If abnormal smells develop or persist despite good hygiene, consulting a physician is recommended, as it may indicate an underlying medical issue needs treatment.