The Human Body. Part 1 The Smell;

"Deodorant research, its the pits" says nobel prize winner


Most living organisms give off a smell whether intentionally or unintentionally. Some animals use scent as an aid to sexual courtship, some use it as a deterrent to predators. The human being is possibly uniquely cursed in nature by having a smell that is an aid to predators and a deterrent to sexual courtship. Humans greatly dislike the smell of other humans and to a lesser extent themselves.

The secretion known as sweat is one of the body’s main tools to regulate its temperature. When sweat evaporates from the skin it removes excess heat. When bacteria on the skin and hair metabolise the proteins and fatty acids in sweat they produce an unpleasant odour. As a result of finding the odour this secretion gives off completely repellent, humans are obliged by social understanding and indeed by law in the American state of Mississippi to keep up a sufficient level of personal hygiene and scent application. As almost any physical activity results in this secretion also known as ‘sweat’ being released this process of washing and scenting is a constant and thankless struggle. It is however essential. In going to work and from work and working human beings will invariably be in close proximity with other humans. If the scent of a person’s body odour is detected in a closed environment it can cause other humans to experience huge discomfort. Firstly their eyes may water, a simulation of the crying technique humans employ to show real misery, the human may then start to feel weak and light headed and start to gasp oxygen into the system erratically as if trying to stock up on any clean air that may be left in their vicinity. If the scent is combined with gas emissions from other human orifices, a highly likely event given the amount of gas humans have to expel on a regular basis, this can make the other humans in the bus/train/office feel physically ill, and disorientated close to the point of collapse. Note in any group of humans larger than say 10 it is quite likely that at least one in the group has a particularly strong odour. It is possible this person is unaware of how badly their stench affects those around them having become somewhat immune to its effects, this only compounds the problem they create and such people must be avoided in closed environments at all costs.
As nose and mouth are the only means of inhaling oxygen, the human body has no means of blocking out unwanted air borne stenches for any serious length of time. The only question is in which way they should enter the body.

Coping Strategies:

Breathe through your mouth.

Avoid large and overweight humans as they secrete more sweat than others in general.

Avoid using public conveyances on a hot day; as sweat is used to cool the body more of it will be created in hot temperatures.

Carry a hand towel and deodorant with you everywhere you go to remove the smell of your own odour and also carry a gas mask about your person to filter your inhalation of oxygen to remove the smell of others.

Irreparably damage your nose in order to remove your sense of smell completely. Note while the sense of smell is rarely a benefit or necessary to humans it is a major component of their sense of taste which can be extremely pleasurable and useful and so this method would by and large be very counterproductive.