Some Chemistry Really Does Stink
Chemists spend a lot of their time isolating and identifying substances that occur in nature. If you happen to be developing products that help overcome body odour, a scientific approach demands that you identify its cause. So it is, that some chemists have worked hard to isolate and identify the chemicals that cause body odour.
The experiments involved a group of male volunteers whose underarm sweat was collected on pads they wore for a twenty four hour period. When the compounds on the pads were analyzed, some thirty six different odoriferous substances were isolated.
Chemists then picked out the substance that seemed to have the most odour, and that best matched the typical stench of sweaty bodies. The compound chosen was 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid. Once identified, it was synthesized in the lab. The resulting pure eau d’ locker room was then sent out for assessment.
The results of this work confirmed that body odour starts with secretions from a gland called the apocrine gland. It is most common in the arm pit, but is also present in the groin and breast. Two types of skin bacteria that live in the arm pit feast on the gland’s secretions, and then produce several dozen smelly compounds, including our old enemy 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid.
So next time you apply your deodorant, spare a thought for those chemists who worked so hard to help us avoid giving any social offence.
The perfume industry thrives in part because of the public’s desire to smell more pleasant. This is just another aspect of our drive to present ourselves in the best possible light. There are a few hardy souls who take pride in celebrating their unadorned, ungroomed selves, but most of us feel insecure enough that we make at least a minimal attempt to be acceptable to our peers.
For some, this is an unconscious thing - just part of the routine of our existence. For others, it is quite calculated - with adjustments made frequently to fit in with whatever group we intend to associate ourselves on a given occasion.
Is this “good” or “bad?” I think neither in most cases. We might well question the ethics if there is a clear intent to offend or deceive, but if the motive is simply to facilitate social interactions we need not be concerned about duplicity or manipulation.
We do well to do what we can to make ourselves presentable to others. After all, what they see in our self-presentation strongly affects their opinion regarding what kind of persons we are on the inside. Though unsettling to think about it, judgements made on flimsy external evidence are inevitable.
While we’re worrying about others taking our appearance too much into account when assessing us as a potential employee, friend or even spouse, we should think twice about the reverse. It is entirely possible to form an unfair opinion of someone based on externals which do not accurately reflect character.
One thing that may both comfort and unsettle us is that though those we meet assess us by what they see, God looks directly at our inner selves. He knows that what really matters is the orientation of our psyche or soul. He evaluates us by looking at whether we are headed toward Him or away from Him.
With God it’s not how we look, how successful we are, or even how “good” we are that matters. It’s all about our seeking Him.
David Humphreys and Ron Hughes
© August 2004
