Female Perception of Male Body Odor

Sergeant, Mark J.T.

doi:10.1016/s0083-6729(10)83002-x

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…For daughters, it is unclear whether we observe the reverse effect: elevated oestradiol levels during puberty lead to an increase in pleasantness ratings. This might be owing to either a strong resemblance between the pubertal daughter's BO and the mother's own BO with regard to oestradiol level or to the fact that it is unclear whether oestradiol affects BO perception in a similar way to testosterone [25]. Oestradiol level of the donor has been shown to predict male ratings of women's BO attractiveness [30], and this might apply for female evaluation likewise.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body odours as a chemosignal in the mother–child relationship: new insights based on an human leucocyte antigen-genotyped family cohort

Schäfer

Sorokowska

Sauter

et al. 2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Mothers are able to identify the body odour (BO) of their own child and prefer this smell above other BOs. It has hence been assumed that the infantile BO functions as a chemosignal promoting targeted parental care. We tested this hypothesis and examined whether children's BOs signal genetic similarity and developmental status to mothers. In addition, we assessed whether BOs facilitate inbreeding avoidance (Westermarck effect). In a cross-sectional design, N = 164 mothers participated with their biological children ( N = 226 children, aged 0–18 years) and evaluated BO probes of their own and four other, sex-matched children. Those varied in age and in genetic similarity, which was assessed by human leucocyte antigen profiling. The study showed not only that mothers identified and preferred their own child's BO, but also that genetic similarity and developmental status are transcribed in BOs. Accordingly, maternal preference of their own child's odour changes throughout development. Our data partly supported the Westermarck effect: mothers' preference of pubertal boys' BOs was negatively related to testosterone for the own son, but not for unfamiliar children. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Olfactory communication in humans’.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body odours as a chemosignal in the mother–child relationship: new insights based on an human leucocyte antigen-genotyped family cohort

Schäfer

Sorokowska

Sauter

et al. 2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…Another reason for diminished exposure to female body odor might be the decreased intensity compared to male body odor in relation to biological factors. Male body odor is often perceived as more intense and less pleasant than female body odor ( Doty et al, 1978 ; Mitro et al, 2012 ), an effect that can be related to stronger axillary secretion ( Sergeant, 2010 ) and a higher concentration of sweat-degrading skin bacteria ( Jackman and Noble, 1983 ), steroid hormones, or axillary hair in men. In light of the previous studies and in accordance with our results, we conclude that an unequivocal sex identification based on body odor alone is unlikely to be performed by individuals from industrialized societies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Male body odor is perceived as more musky ( Russell, 1976 ), more intense and less pleasant than female body odor ( Hold and Schleidt, 1977 ; Doty et al, 1978 ; Schleidt et al, 1981 ; Mitro et al, 2012 ). It has further been established that higher chemosensory discrimination of body odors is more frequent for female raters and that the body odor of the opposite sex is expected to smell more pleasant ( Hold and Schleidt, 1977 ; Sergeant, 2010 ; Mitro et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemosensory Communication of Gender Information: Masculinity Bias in Body Odor Perception and Femininity Bias Introduced by Chemosignals During Social Perception

et al. 2016

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Human body odor is a source of important social information. In this study, we explore whether the sex of an individual can be established based on smelling axillary odor and whether exposure to male and female odors biases chemosensory and social perception. In a double-blind, pseudo-randomized application, 31 healthy normosmic heterosexual male and female raters were exposed to male and female chemosignals (odor samples of 27 heterosexual donors collected during a cardio workout) and a no odor sample. Recipients rated chemosensory samples on a masculinity-femininity scale and provided intensity, familiarity and pleasantness ratings. Additionally, the modulation of social perception (gender-neutral faces and personality attributes) and affective introspection (mood) by male and female chemosignals was assessed. Male and female axillary odors were rated as rather masculine, regardless of the sex of the donor. As opposed to the masculinity bias in the odor perception, a femininity bias modulating social perception appeared. A facilitated femininity detection in gender-neutral faces and personality attributes in male and female chemosignals appeared. No chemosensory effect on mood of the rater was observed. The results are discussed with regards to the use of male and female chemosignals in affective and social communication.

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“…10,11 It also has a role in mate selection. [12][13][14][15][16] Unpleasant personal odour triggers repulsion in others. This is thought to be an evolutionary response to avoid mating with sick individuals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dimethylsulphidemia: the significance of dimethyl sulphide in extra-oral, blood borne halitosis

Harvey-Woodworth¹

2013

Br Dent J

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Halitosis is a symptom and not a diagnosis. Rather, the topic represents a spectrum of disorders, including intra-oral, otorhinolaryngological, metabolic, systemic, pulmonary, psychological and neurological conditions. Halitosis may be the third most common trigger for patients to seek dental care and can cause significant impact on patient quality of life. About 10% of all genuine halitosis cases are attributed to extra-oral processes. Some authorities have reported that the nasal cavity and the oropharynx are the most common sites of origin of extra-oral halitosis. However, recent evidence appears to suggest that blood borne halitosis may be the most common subtype of extra-oral halitosis. Tangerman and Winkel report that dimethyl sulphide was the main volatile implicated in extra-oral blood borne halitosis. They proposed a hitherto unknown metabolic condition by way of explanation for this finding, resulting in systemic presence of dimethyl sulphide in blood and alveolar breath. This paper reviews the knowledge base regarding the behaviour of dimethyl sulphide in physiological systems and those disorders in which blood borne halitosis secondary to dimethylsulphidemia is thought to have an aetiopathological role.

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Female Perception of Male Body Odor

Cited by 18 publications

References 88 publications

Body odours as a chemosignal in the mother–child relationship: new insights based on an human leucocyte antigen-genotyped family cohort

Body odours as a chemosignal in the mother–child relationship: new insights based on an human leucocyte antigen-genotyped family cohort

Chemosensory Communication of Gender Information: Masculinity Bias in Body Odor Perception and Femininity Bias Introduced by Chemosignals During Social Perception

Dimethylsulphidemia: the significance of dimethyl sulphide in extra-oral, blood borne halitosis

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