Question

I remember one, sweltering day in Malaysia, I was climbing the very long staircase to a Buddha statue in a cave, when I suddenly felt enveloped in an overpowering smell of sweat. My first thought was that I must have forgot to wash, possibly for several weeks, but then I realised that I was in the middle of a troupe of monkeys.

And now I've come to wonder what the function is of this very characteristic smell. There seems to be connection to sexual maturity, since children don't start producing the smell until puberty, and the overwhelming base of evidence I collected that day, seems to suggest that this may be universal among primates.

Has any research been done into the function smell of sweat, socially or otherwise?

Answer 1

Sweat odor in primates has functions in social communication and signaling sexual maturity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Research into the function of sweat odor in primates, including humans, indicates several key aspects. Apocrine sweat glands, which are active after puberty, produce an oily sweat that bacteria on the skin consume. The resulting body odor plays a role in social communication, as well as in sexual maturity signaling. In humans, the loss of body hair and the development of a greater number of sweat glands may indicate adaptations such as thermoregulation and parasite control. Despite having a reduced sense of smell compared to other mammals, primates still process complex chemical mixtures through olfaction, which affect behaviors and interactions. Thus, the function of sweat odor extends beyond merely an unpleasant byproduct, acting as a nuanced biological and social signal.

Moreover, sweat odor can be tied to memories and experiences, reinforcing its significance in social and personal contexts. From the overpowering sense on a crowded staircase in Malaysia to distinct recollections of one's grandmother's kitchen, odors are uniquely connected with our mental representation of the world. This highlights the intricate relationship between our senses and the environment.