Why do our armpits have a unique odour?

Question

But our "leg pits" do not. Does the odour have any special function, such as for social or (and) health purposes?

Answer 1

Um, leg pits do, too...

Answer 2

The odour is caused by special sweat glands called 'apocrine' glands. The odour secreted is a sexual pheromone which is nature's way of helping you to attract a mate and avoid incest and inbreeding - studies have shown that people are most revolted by the smell of the sweat of the opposite gender members of their own immediate family and it is suggested that this is a natural protection against harmful inbreeding.

Answer 3

I have read most of the answers and I agree with the ones that mention bacteria, sweat glands, et al. Aside from the physiological and scientific response, I say that arm pits tend to be more odoriferous than "leg pits" simply because we tend not to walk around with our arms up. So, the arm pit area barely gets well-ventilated unlike the "leg pits." Even when wearing slacks or pants, you have to admit that when standing, the leg pits still gets to breath much more than the arm pit due to the natural way we keep our arms down most of the time. I wonder if monkeys arm pits smell?? LOL!!!!

Answer 4

the cells that secretes that sweat are actually different than the normal "sweaty"(?) cells in the rest of the body, this special sweat just ... stinks. It's not a matter of bad hygiene. This evil cells develop during puberty, and even with this pheromones theories I would prefer not having them.

ah, yeah, I forgot to add that this cells are called apocrine cells.

Answer 5

The male armpits produce pheromones, read all about those here:
http://www.athenainstitute.com/discovery.html
They aid in regulating a woman's reproductive cycle, they are important to a woman's health and well being, and they are highly erotic.

This article discusses how men who wear tanktops and expose women to their armpits are more likely to be considered attractive:
http://salon.com/health/sex/urge/world/2000/04/17/sweat/index.html
"According to a British survey, all they have to do to get the girls is wear tank tops and show off their sweaty armpits."

Answer 6

because each person is unique and special we all exude pheremones ,have sweat glands and bacteria under there as wellas a mixture of body oils, whatever we use for deodorants,or hair removal chemicals all mixed up not to mention soaps and excioxins hope this clears up the aroma for you Gorbalizer

Answer 7

because they have sweat glands there,a nd those blessed with hairs there, have more odour as the hair traps the sweat which reacts with the bacteria on our skin to produce the particular odour, yuk!

Answer 8

Probably because it is a place that only some unwanted liquids can be released and the smell of those body fluids combined doesn't smell like anything else.

Answer 9

Entirely to attract the "proper" mate. And then we rub them with a goop to hide the smell and get married . This stupidity only leads to divorce.

Answer 10

1

Answer 11

Underarm contain a lot more sweat glands - they have to as under there doesn't get as much ventilation.