Long-Term Abstention from Deodorant: Shocking Result Revealed
A wellness influencer, Alyse Parker, has been making waves with her six-year experiment on body odor. In 2018, she decided to stop using deodorant, aiming to understand what truly causes body odor.
Parker's experiment is a fascinating exploration of how much body odor is influenced by our habits, food, and even DNA. One key genetic factor that can make a person underarm-odor-free is the ABCC11 gene. A common variant of this gene, found in 80% to 95% of East Asians, results in significantly reduced underarm body odor and drier earwax. This gene encodes a protein involved in transporting molecules across cell membranes in sweat. When the gene is inactive due to a mutation, the typical organic compounds in sweat that bacteria metabolize to create usual body odor are absent, leading to a lack of noticeable underarm odor.
However, this genetic variant mainly affects underarm sweat odor, so individuals may still produce odors from other parts of the body. In addition to the ABCC11 gene, body odor is influenced by various genetic factors such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), dietary habits, hormonal changes, and skin bacteria.
Parker, who was a vegan at the time, suggested her plant-based diet was a major reason her natural scent changed. Dietary components, especially animal products, change the chemical makeup of our sweat, which can affect how we smell. A 2006 study published in Biology Letters found that people who avoided meat had "significantly more pleasant and less intense" axillary odor.
Parker noticed her scent remained mostly neutral, except after meals heavy in fat or protein, when a faint odor sometimes returned. She maintained her usual workout routine, including intense gym sessions, and still didn't experience complaints about body odor.
After a year, Parker reported on YouTube that friends and followers didn't notice any unpleasant odor. Her six-year experiment suggests that diet, personal biology, and genetics all work together in ways we're only starting to understand.
The American Academy of Dermatology states that the smell of sweat comes when skin bacteria break down specific compounds in sweat, especially after exercise or during stressful moments. Parker's experiment uncovers the sometimes unexpected science behind a daily ritual many take for granted.
It's important to note that Parker's experiment does not prove everyone can toss out their deodorant. About 2% of people carry a variant of the ABCC11 gene that stops their bodies from producing the key compounds responsible for underarm odor.
Parker's experiment is prompting new conversations about the causes of body odor and its influence by habits, food, and even DNA. Her story is detailed and backed by peer-reviewed research, making it a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion about personal hygiene and the science behind it.
- Alyse Parker's six-year experiment on body odor has highlighted the influence of diet on personal scent, with her vegan diet suspected as a major reason for the change in her natural scent.
- Parker's experiment also suggests that genetic factors, such as the ABCC11 gene, play a significant role in underarm sweat odor, but other parts of the body may still produce odors due to various genetic, dietary, hormonal, and bacterial influences.
