Did You Know There Are 8 Types of Body Odor?
I’m 42 now, and it’s time to start paying attention to aging-related body odor! (Ha!)
I recently watched a video by Dr. Yoshika Sekine, a leading researcher in skin gas science, who explains body odor using scientific data. Here’s what I learned!
Most people assume body odor is just about sweat, but the reality is surprisingly complex. According to Dr. Sekine, body odor can be classified into 8 types:
- Aging odor (kareishū)
- Mid-life grease odor (a strong one I’d never heard of!)
- Sweat odor
- Acetic acid odor
- Diet odor
- Alcohol odor
- Fatigue odor
- Tobacco odor
Just reading those names is enough to make you wrinkle your nose! (Ha!)
Each Type Has a Different Cause — and Solution
Interestingly, sweat itself doesn’t smell that bad. The odor develops when sweat is left on the skin — bacteria on your skin feed on it and produce odor-causing substances. The solution? Wipe sweat away frequently.
The Power of a Morning Shower
For aging-related body odor specifically, Dr. Sekine’s top recommendation is: a morning shower!
Just one minute of showering in the morning can keep the effects going until evening. During the night, your skin accumulates oils and odor-causing substances — and washing them away first thing prevents odor from building up throughout the day.
Come to think of it, the principal of my acupuncture school used to say the same thing — he never skipped his morning shower for odor prevention!
The Mysterious “Mid-Life Grease Odor”
This one’s new to me — and the name really paints a picture! It’s caused by lactic acid in sweat being broken down by skin bacteria, which produces a substance called diacetyl. The result? An odor described as “stale cooking oil.” (Ha!)
This type of odor is especially common around the back of the head and nape of the neck — which explains why wiping those areas with a hot towel at restaurants is actually great odor prevention!
Starting Small
For my part, I’ve decided to make the morning shower a daily habit. (Ha!)
It’s a refreshing way to start the day, and it helps maintain a feeling of freshness well into the afternoon. Body odor is something everyone has — the key is learning to work with your body and making small, comfortable adjustments to your daily routine.
Before You Visit…
Fair warning: our English is a work in progress! (Ha!)
But thanks to the magic of translation apps, we communicate just fine with patients from around the world.
Your body speaks a universal language — and that’s the one we’re fluent in.
