The Effect of Diet on Human Bodily Odors

One of the most underestimated and poorly understood aspects of diet is its influence on human body odor. Humans have a distinct odor signature which arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The link between genes and body odor is well appreciated, and an understanding of the influences of environmental factors such as emotional state, reproductive phase, and health status, is underway. Research into the impact of diet upon bodily odors, however, has been somewhat neglected. A recent study found that consumption of red meat for a period of two weeks decreased the pleasantness and increased the intensity of male axillary odor when judged by opposite-sex raters. Changes in bodily odors have also been linked to the consumption of food such as soya beans, plants from the Alliaceae or Brassicaceae families, strongly-flavored spices, fish, and milk-based products. This chapter critically reviews the literature on various aspects of food influencing human body odor and suggests several avenues for future research.