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Chemical Senses Advance Access originally published online on November 12, 2008
Chemical Senses 2009 34(2):127-138; doi:10.1093/chemse/bjn067
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Methods of Human Body Odor Sampling: The Effect of Freezing

Pavlina Lenochova1, S. Craig Roberts2 and Jan Havlicek1

1 Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Husnikova 2075, 158 00 Prague 13, Czech Republic 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK

Correspondence to be sent to: Jan Havlicek, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Husnikova 2075, 158 00 Prague 13, Czech Republic. e-mail: jan.havlicek{at}fhs.cuni.cz


  Abstract

Body odor sampling is an essential tool in human chemical ecology research. However, methodologies of individual studies vary widely in terms of sampling material, length of sampling, and sample processing. Although these differences might have a critical impact on results obtained, almost no studies test validity of current methods. Here, we focused on the effect of freezing samples between collection and use in experiments involving body odor perception. In 2 experiments, we tested whether axillary odors were perceived differently by raters when presented fresh or having been frozen and whether several freeze–thaw cycles affected sample quality. In the first experiment, samples were frozen for 2 weeks, 1 month, or 4 months. We found no differences in ratings of pleasantness, attractiveness, or masculinity between fresh and frozen samples. Similarly, almost no differences between repeatedly thawed and fresh samples were found. We found some variations in intensity; however, this was unrelated to length of storage. The second experiment tested differences between fresh samples and those frozen for 6 months. Again no differences in subjective ratings were observed. These results suggest that freezing has no significant effect on perceived odor hedonicity and that samples can be reliably used after storage for relatively long periods.

Key words: armpit, human, mate choice, MHC, olfaction, smell

Accepted 15 October 2008


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