Apocrine Secretion Odor

Dear Tony, Apocrine secretions merely consist of long-chain fatty acids (and also some proteins and hormones). The long-chain fatty acids are too long to be odorous. These compounds first need to be degraded by bacteria to become volatile and odorous. It is the breakdown products: the mid- and short-chain fatty acids that can evaporate and can cause an odor. The present bacteria determine how these compounds are degraded and, as such, how it smells. Best, Chris