Czech scientists from Charles University studied what motivates people to evaluate their own smell and what situations can trigger such behavior. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Physiology and Behavior (P&B).
124 people took part in the first phase of the experiment. They answered questions assessing how often they smelled different parts of their body or clothing. Participants were also asked to describe their actions in specific situations involving odor. For example, in what situations do they feel that their armpits smell?
In the second study, the sample was expanded to 209 people. They were asked to complete a 35-item survey that included questions about odors and related behaviors, medication use, and hygiene habits (hand washing time, etc.).
Principal component analysis revealed three distinct aspects of self-smelling; these include social acceptance monitoring (underarms, breath, and dirty clothing), intimate self-monitoring (assessing specific body odor), and cosmetic self-monitoring, which involves smelling hands and hair.
The results showed that men were more concerned about how their crotch smelled than women. Participants with chronic diseases were more likely to describe the social acceptability of their scent. It also turns out that people often smell their hands and clothes, regardless of gender and other factors.
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