When it comes to a man’s body odor, the fragrance — or stench — is in the nose of the beholder, according to U.S. researchers who suggest a single gene may determine how people perceive body odor.

“This is the first time that any human odorant receptor is associated with how we experience odors,” Hiroaki Matsunami of Duke University

Research focused on the chemical androstenone. How you perceive smell appears to have a lot to do with variations in one odor receptor gene.

What they found is slight genetic variations determine whether androstenone has a pungent smell, a sweet, vanilla-like smell or no smell at all.

How this affects human social and sexual behavior will be the next part of this study. Of course.



  1. Steve Savage says:

    Could you at least post a less disturbing image for the article?

    Aren’t those a british and australian soldier engaging in an eskimo kiss?

  2. KVolk says:

    Ditto

  3. Eideard says:

    #1 – The answer to both questions is “no”. The image is from a military instruction documentary. Tee hee.

  4. GigG says:

    #3 I certainly hope it is in the Don’t Do This section of the training.

  5. Eideard says:

    Actually – #4 – it’s a “How to”

  6. DaveW says:

    I don’t care what the basis for the photo is. I wouldn’t do either of them. They are ugly and from what I can see appear to be quite stinky.

  7. moss says:

    Careful, Dave. You’re close to being back on topic.

    They just might not be “stinky” – to your receptors. They might smell “interesting”.

  8. zn2336 says:

    #1. It’s a “hongi”. They’re generals in the Australian and New Zealand Armies. Cosgrove and Morrison.

  9. tikiloungelizard says:

    #8 right you are. It’s a traditional Maori greeting.

  10. OhForTheLoveOf says:

    You guys are so insecure with your sexuality… It’s really a shame.


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