RE: cumin – many chemicals that are present in spices and/or used in deodorants and parfumes smell very nice in very, very low concentrations, but smell really awfull if more concentrated or even pure. So it is nothing surprising that unplesant and pleasant smells share the same components.
rqsays
It’s also likely that the ‘goat’ part of underarm odour is overpowering the ‘cumin’ part.
leerudolphsays
Yet another reductionist campaign
Fight back—oxidize!!!
Saadsays
Goat, garlic, cabbage, onion, cumin, cheese.
Hmm, body odors are sounding like the beginnings of a pretty delicious recipe.
Monsantosays
I feel short-changed. You left out my favorite flatulence flavoring — 3-methyl indole (or skatole).
Mark Jacobson says
Life is also chemistry’s fault, so I think I’ll give chemistry a pass on this one.
August Berkshire says
Yet another reductionist campaign to take attention away from the real cause: evil spirits.
DonDueed says
Wait… my underarms could smell like cumin?
I should stop using deodorant.
Marcus Ranum says
I notice the christians aren’t rushing to claim flatulence as their god’s brilliant creation.
Caine says
Cumin? Really? Perhaps ground up, low quality cumin smells like sweaty person, but not good cumin seed. Not my cumin seed, anyway.
robro says
This seems apropos here (from Skeptichick Quickies a few days ago): Your Body Is Surrounded by Clouds of Skin and Fart Bacteria
garydargan says
So bad breath and flatulence are now classified as a chemical weapon. All teenage Muslims farting in class will be arrested.
Charly says
RE: cumin – many chemicals that are present in spices and/or used in deodorants and parfumes smell very nice in very, very low concentrations, but smell really awfull if more concentrated or even pure. So it is nothing surprising that unplesant and pleasant smells share the same components.
rq says
It’s also likely that the ‘goat’ part of underarm odour is overpowering the ‘cumin’ part.
leerudolph says
Fight back—oxidize!!!
Saad says
Goat, garlic, cabbage, onion, cumin, cheese.
Hmm, body odors are sounding like the beginnings of a pretty delicious recipe.
Monsanto says
I feel short-changed. You left out my favorite flatulence flavoring — 3-methyl indole (or skatole).