Human scent characterization: A review

Peters, Ruud; Veenstra, Rick; Heutinck, Karin; Baas, A.A.; Munniks, Sandra; Knotter, Jaap

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111743

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Among the hand samples, compounds with a frequency of 70% or more (detected in ≥7 subject participants) included: 1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl-; 2-Furanmethanol; 4-Cyanocyclohexene; 5-Hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-; benzyl alcohol; decanal; decanoic acid, methyl ester; ethanol, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-; heptanal; hexadecane; exanal; nonanal; octanoic acid, methyl ester; tetradecane; and undecane. Previous studies focusing on hand odor have also identified these compounds [2,5,25,40]. Additionally, in a recent review of previous studies of human scent VOCs, Peters et al [2] identified nonanal and decanal as being the two highestfrequency compounds from human hand odor, as they were present in the previous studies reviewed.…”

Section: Comparison Of Whole-body Chamber Samples and Individual Bios...mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Canines are a vital biological detector tool for various law enforcement agencies, with different detection applications including explosives, narcotics, human remains, and human scent [1]. Human scent itself can be described as a mixture of numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the skin, breath, and bodily fluids, resulting in a highly varied human biochemistry that can be analyzed via noninvasive approaches with appropriate headspace instrumental techniques [2][3][4]. As a form of trace evidence, human scent can aid in criminal investigations by determining the travel direction of a suspect, identifying the suspect through a scent line-up procedure, or aiding in victim search and recovery efforts [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within an analytical perspective, the challenge for human odor volatile analysis remains in the array of collection techniques, sample types, and detection approaches utilized to perform these studies [2]. While previous research has delved into many different types of human biospecimens for analysis [2,7], an area that has yet to be fully understood is the analysis of the whole human body as the source for sampling purposes. More so is understanding the human body as an emission odor source and how this full human sample relates to its sublayers, as seen in the many biospecimens that make the whole-body function from a physiological, metabolic, genetic, and bacterial perspective.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical Characterization of Human Body Odor Headspace Components

Medrano,

Cantu,

Aviles-Rosa

et al. 2024

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This study focused on evaluating human body odor volatiles using a chamber approach. Ten participants were asked to sit inside the chamber for 1 h, while using SPME as the extraction technique for vapor sampling. A total of 105 compounds were detected across participants, with nonanal having the highest frequency. PCA statistical analysis depicted tighter clustering in female whole-body odor profiles when compared to males, thus corroborating gender odor differences. Concurrently, various biospecimens (hand, axillary, breath) from the same participants allowed for a comparison between whole-body and individual biospecimen odor signatures. When comparing whole-body sampling and distinctive biospecimens, nonanal and decanal were the only odor volatiles shared. Statistical clustering depicted higher similarity within the odor profiles of individual biospecimens compared to odor profiles of the whole body, indicating distinctiveness of the odor chemical landscape as a function of sampling region. Overall, this study demonstrated that SPME-GC/MS methodology was successful in the extraction, detection, and identification of previously reported human scent volatiles when employing the human chamber for whole-body sampling. Our presented testing paradigm allows for a direct comparison of odor volatiles across the full body and specific body locations that allows odor markers to be furthered exploited for diagnostic and biological detection contexts.

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Section: Comparison Of Whole-body Chamber Samples and Individual Bios...mentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Chemical Characterization of Human Body Odor Headspace Components

Medrano,

Cantu,

Aviles-Rosa

et al. 2024

Separations

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“…Since the primary compounds are genetically determined [11], their occurrence and relative amount is not affected by the diet, physical and mental state of the particular persons, by their diseases, medications, cosmetics etc. It is assumed that the genetic background of the person determines the occurrences and relative concentrations of these primary compounds [12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computerized olfactronic identification of persons using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

Bouška,

Pojmanová,

Urban

et al. 2024

Preprint

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This paper demonstrates the possibilities of the computer identification of individuals based on the digitized scent signatures using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GCxGC-MS). This identification is performed by comparing an unknown digital scent sample (i.e., a chromatogram) with the digital scent signatures in the database. The olfactronic (performed by computers) identification of persons will replace the olfactoric identification currently performed by trained police dogs. This olfactoric identification is considered to be only a subjective method and therefore it needs to be replaced by an objective olfactronic method. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the advantages of this objective olfactronic identification. In addition to this objectivity, the olfactronic identification method makes it possible to compare and store hundreds or even thousands of digital scent signatures in the database so that they do not change. A higher recognition percentage of identification is achieved when applying two differently constructed signatures. The article shows that with this approach comparison algorithm can reach up to a 100-percent correct identification for unknown samples. In this pilot study, 400 scent samples from 40 volunteers (20 women, 20 men) were analyzed by GCxGC-MS whereas ten scent samples were taken from each person.

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Smell throughout the life course

Poirier,

Melin

2024

Evolutionary Anthropology

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The sense of smell is an important mediator of health and sociality at all stages of life, yet it has received limited attention in our lineage. Olfaction starts in utero and participates in the establishment of social bonds in children, and of romantic and sexual relationships after puberty. Smell further plays a key role in food assessment and danger avoidance; in modern societies, it also guides our consumer behavior. Sensory abilities typically decrease with age and can be impacted by diseases, with repercussions on health and well‐being. Here, we critically review our current understanding of human olfactory communication to refute outdated notions that our sense of smell is of low importance. We provide a summary of the biology of olfaction, give a prospective overview of the importance of the sense of smell throughout the life course, and conclude with an outline of the limitations and future directions in this field.

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Human scent characterization: A review

Cited by 7 publications

References 70 publications

Chemical Characterization of Human Body Odor Headspace Components

Chemical Characterization of Human Body Odor Headspace Components

Computerized olfactronic identification of persons using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

Smell throughout the life course

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