Xn. Zeng et al., ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERISTIC HUMAN FEMALE AXILLARY ODORS - QUALITATIVE COMPARISON TO MALES, Journal of chemical ecology, 22(2), 1996, pp. 237-257
Odors produced in the human female axillae are of both biological and
commercial importance. Several studies have suggested that extracts fr
om female underarm secretions can alter the length and timing of the f
emale menstrual cycle. In addition, more than 1.6 billion dollars are
spent annually on products to eliminate or mask the axillary odors. Ou
r recent studies have determined that the characteristic axillary odor
s in males consist of C-6-C-11, saturated, unsaturated and branched ac
ids, with (E)-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid (3M2H) being the major compound
in this mixture. The 3M2H appears to be carried to the skin surface b
ound to two proteins in the axillary secretions. Data reported here sh
ow that the same mixture of odorous compounds is found in female axill
ary secretions, with several minor qualitative differences. Separation
of the female apocrine secretions into aqueous and organic soluble fr
actions demonstrated that 3M2H, and several other members of the acids
in the characteristic odor, are released by hydrolysis with base. Ele
ctrophoretic separation of the proteins found in the aqueous phase of
female apocrine secretions revealed a pattern identical to that seen i
n males. The qualitative similarity of the acidic constituents making
up the characteristic axillary odors of both females and males as well
as the proteins present in the aqueous phase suggest a similar origin
for axillary odors in both sexes.