Many of us worry about body odour, yet detecting our own scent can be surprisingly difficult. This is due to a phenomenon known as “nose blindness” or olfactory fatigue, where the brain becomes desensitised to familiar smells, including our own. This explains why others might notice an odour in your home or on your person that you no longer perceive.
Our sweat, particularly from apocrine glands located in areas like the scalp and underarms, becomes malodorous when bacteria break it down. While this is a natural process, it can lead to unpleasant smells that we might not detect ourselves.
One suggested, albeit unscientific, method to check for personal odour involves using your clean fingers to touch areas prone to sweating, such as your scalp or underarms, and then cautiously sniffing your fingertips. While not foolproof, this technique may offer some insight into how you smell to others.
The article was written in response to a question from Beth Clarke in London, who asked how one can determine if they have body odour. Readers are encouraged to submit their own science-related questions to the publication for expert insights.
