I’m one of those females who has a highly acute (almost abnormally so) sense of smell. This study states “Ongoing sensory studies will address whether differences in ethnicity can be discriminated by human panelists” – I can tell you from personal experience that yes, there is a discernible difference in scent (based on my n1 personal experience) between white males and black males (I don’t know about Asian).
The study also mentions the dearth of info regarding dietary intake – again, in my experience there is also a difference in scent between people who are vegetarian and meat eaters. I say this as a full-on carnivore myself, but former vegetarian when in my 20’s and early 30’s – vegetarians have minimal to no body odor (I can’t say regarding Vegans – I never knew any, all the Veggie folks I’ve known did eggs and dairy).
Additionally, anyone who works in healthcare can tell you that there are absolutely physiological differences between various races & ignoring this (or pretending it doesn’t exist) increases the risk to folks of different ethnicities. Same goes for males and females – studies historically were always done on men, with unexpected results when they tried to generalize the results and effects to women.
Honoring and respecting differences is where it’s at – not pretending they don’t exist or trying to erase them. 🙂
My wife also has an extra-ordinary keen sense of smell. Sometimes it works against her in that she can not tolerate some people or places. She is vegetarian and consumes egg and dairy products.
You are what you eat, or , you smell what you eat!
So called “canonical axillary odor”.
I’m one of those females who has a highly acute (almost abnormally so) sense of smell. This study states “Ongoing sensory studies will address whether differences in ethnicity can be discriminated by human panelists” – I can tell you from personal experience that yes, there is a discernible difference in scent (based on my n1 personal experience) between white males and black males (I don’t know about Asian).
The study also mentions the dearth of info regarding dietary intake – again, in my experience there is also a difference in scent between people who are vegetarian and meat eaters. I say this as a full-on carnivore myself, but former vegetarian when in my 20’s and early 30’s – vegetarians have minimal to no body odor (I can’t say regarding Vegans – I never knew any, all the Veggie folks I’ve known did eggs and dairy).
Additionally, anyone who works in healthcare can tell you that there are absolutely physiological differences between various races & ignoring this (or pretending it doesn’t exist) increases the risk to folks of different ethnicities. Same goes for males and females – studies historically were always done on men, with unexpected results when they tried to generalize the results and effects to women.
Honoring and respecting differences is where it’s at – not pretending they don’t exist or trying to erase them. 🙂
My wife also has an extra-ordinary keen sense of smell. Sometimes it works against her in that she can not tolerate some people or places. She is vegetarian and consumes egg and dairy products.
Interesting – when, or where are you posting your papers? Thanks!