Human axillary odors

Preti G., et al. (1990). Human axillary odors their communicative function, structure and origin. Proc Am Chem Soc 200, 12 (abs). 

Spielman A., Sunavala G., Harmony J., Stuart W., et al. (1998). Identification and immunohistochemjcal localization of protein precursors to human axillary odors in apocrine glands and secretions. Arch Dermatol 134, 813-818. 

Spielman A., Zeng X., Leyden J. and Preti G. (1995). Proteinaceous precursors of human axillary odor — isolation of two novel odorant binding proteins. Experientia 51, 40-47. 

Wysocki C.J., Zeng C. and Preti G. (1999). Specific anosmia and olfactory sensitivity to 3-methyl-2-hexanoic acid a major component of human axillary odor. Chem Senses 25, 652 (abs. 330). 

Doty, R.L., Green, P.A., Ram, C. and Yankell, S.L. (1982) Communication of gender from human breath odors relationship to perceived intensity and pleasantness. Horm. Behav. 16, 13-22. Doty, R.L., Kligman, A., Leyden, J. and Omdorff, M.M. (1978) Communication of gender from human axillary odors Relationship to perceived intensity and hedonicity. Behav. Biol. 23, 373-380. 

Zeng, C., Spielman, A. L, Vowels, B. R., etal. (1996a). A human axillary odorant is carried by apolipoprotein D. Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences of the USA 93,6626-6630. 

Doty RL, Omdorff MM, Leyden J, Klingman A (1978) Communication of gender from human axillary odors Relationship to perceived intensity and hedonicity. Behav Biol 23 373-380... 

Spielman, A.I., Harmony, J.A.K., Stuart, W.D., Leyden, J.J., Sunavala, G., Turner, G., Vowels, B.R., Lam, W.C., Yang, S. Preti, G. 1998. Identification and immunohistochemical localization of protein precursors to human axillary odor in apocrine glands and secretions. Arch. Dermatol., 134, in press. 

Doty, R.L., M.M. Orndorff, J. Leyden, and A. Kligman Communication of Gender from Human Axillary Odors Relationship to Perceived Intensity and He-donicity. Behav. Biol. 23, 373-380 (1978). 

Leyden J., McGinley K., Hoelzle K., Labows J., et al. (1981). The microbiology of the human axillae in relation to axillary odors. J Invest Dermatol 77, 413-416. 

Zeng C Leyden J Spielman A. and Preti G. (1996). Analysis of characteristic human female axillary odors — qualitative comparison to males. J Chem Ecol 22,237-257. 

Mallet, A. I., Holland, K. T., Rennie, P. J., Watkins, W. J. and Gower, D. B. (1991) Applications of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the study of androgen and odorous 16-androstene metabolism by human axillary bacteria. J. Chromatogr-Biomed. 562, 647-658. 

Axillary odors of male and female humans contain the same compounds (Ce-Cii acids andE-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid), but in different ratios. The characteristic odor resides in acidic compounds (Zeng etal, 1996b). 

In a later experiment, two pheromones from axillary odor of young women influenced the estrus cycle of other women (Stern and McClintock, 1998). Armpit secretion that appears odorless to humans was applied daily between the upper lip and nose of healthy young women and had two opposite effects depending on the menstrual phase of the odor donors. Secretion from nine donor women, collected on pads in their armpits during the follicular phase of their cycles... 

The influence of odors such as perfumes and fragrances on human behavior is assumed to he acquired, and the responses elicited depend on the often complex previous social experiences. The response will be altered if a laboratory experiment eliminates contextual stimuli (Kirk-Smith and Booth, 1987). Social odors include those of the well-known security blankets in toddlers, familiarly scented bed sheets in new surroundings, and treating insomnia with mother s axillary odor on handkerchief. Removal of bad body odors (diet, metabolism defects) that disrupt interpersonal harmony appears to be universal. 

Zeng, X.-N., Leyden, J. J., Brand, J. G., etal. (1992). An investigation of human apocrine gland secretion for axillary odor precursors. JournalofChemicalEcology 18,1039-1055. 

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