One study even showed that the genetic coding for a certain protein that binds on to smells and helps them reach the smell receptors in the nose, does vary within populations, so some people may naturally have a better sense of smell than others.
Super Smellers
And most of that comes down to genetics (women typically have higher smell acuity than men) or anatomy, such as a deviated septum. Temporary conditions (inflamed sinuses, for example) can dampen your sense of smell. In addition, smell acuity lessens as we age. Some people, however, are super smellers.
To smell naturally good, going natural is the answer. Essential oils have been a part of aromatherapy for centuries. While perfumes also derive their notes from nature, choosing an all-natural essential oil can make you smell fresh, moisturize your skin and treat skin problems as well.
It's completely normal to have a natural body odor and isn't necessarily related to how much you sweat. Sweat itself is odorless. Some medical conditions, genetics, being overweight or eating certain foods could make you more susceptible to bad body odor.
Eating healthy and whole foods rich in antioxidants can help keep you smell good without cologne. Foods like berries, nuts, seeds, dark leafy greens, and citrus fruits are all excellent sources of antioxidants that help keep the body clean from the inside out.
Medically known as hyperosmia, super smellers are people who have a heightened sense of smell compared to the average person. Some super smellers may be more sensitive to pleasant smells, while others may be more affected by unpleasant odours.
"Eating well — lots of fresh food, including fruits and vegetables and clean protein — really keeps the body fresh and running smoothly, thus providing the perfect substrate for fragrance," she says. She adds that alcohol can have an adverse effect on body odor.
According to a group of researchers from the University of Bristol in the UK, 2 percent of people (at least in their survey) carry a rare version of the gene ABCC11 that prevents their armpits from producing an offensive odor.
Although there is some controversy on the subject of "racial" variation in body odor, it is determined that African blacks probably produce the greatest amount of apocrine sweat, which is the known substrate for axillary odor.
Every person has a unique scent. “It's like a fingerprint,” says Johan Lundström, a neuroscientist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. “There is a large genetic component to body odor. Even trained sniffer dogs have a hard time distinguishing between identical twins, unless the twins are on different diets.”
Your diet can be a huge turn-on—and it has nothing to do with how you look when you're chowing down on your meal: Eating healthy foods can make you smell better to women, a new study published in Human and Evolution Behavior suggests.
Go take a shower, watch TV, read a book for a while. Then, collect the clothes and give them the sniff test, especially around the pit area and anywhere you sweat profusely. If you find an odor that is unpleasant, that might be an indicator that you have a body odor problem that is leaching into your clothing.
Medically known as hyperosmia (osmia meaning sense of smell), being a super smeller is a rare condition defined by having a heightened sense of pleasant or unpleasant smells. The small number of studies carried out on hyperosmia prove that the condition has a medical reason or could be a part of a syndrome.
We have now discovered that each person's scent is unique – not even identical twins smell exactly alike. Each of us also has a one-of-a-kind nose for smells.
While it can change depending on our diet and health, a lot of what makes our smell unique is determined by our genetics. Our body odour is specific enough, and our sense of smell accurate enough, that people can pair the sweaty T-shirts of identical twins from a group of strangers' T-shirts.
While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
ABCC11: the “no body odor gene”
Genetic variants that cause a loss of function of the ABCC11 gene are very common among East Asian ethnicities (80-90% of the population). In other population groups, it is rare to have no body odor.
Everyone has their own scent—just think of how differently your grandma and your boyfriend smell when you lean in for a hug. But can we smell ourselves? For the first time, scientists show that yes, we can, ScienceNOW reports. Our basis of self-smell originates in molecules similar to those animals use to chose mates.
The results showed that 8 out of 10 participants were unable to make more than 6 correct choices, indicating that 80% of the participants were unable to differentiate between natural and synthetic scents.
Smell yourself: Take a sniff of your wrist or other pulse points to ensure the fragrance is still noticeable to you. Ask for feedback: If possible, discreetly ask a trusted friend or family member if they can smell your fragrance.