Your unique scent, influenced by genetics and environmental factors, carries valuable information. Researchers specializing in human scent, focusing on volatile organic compounds, have discovered its potential for forensic and healthcare applications. As you move, your body’s warmth creates air currents, dispersing skin cells, microbes, and compounds from glands that contribute to your scent. This distinctive odor profile remains influenced by factors like race, stress, and diet. Scent can serve as an identifying feature, as demonstrated by scent detection dogs distinguishing between identical twins. Recent research shows the potential for scent to predict characteristics like race, gender, and even biological sex with impressive accuracy, opening new avenues for identification and healthcare applications.
