Airborne Human Odorants: Detection, Dispersion and Characterization

: This project concentrates on characterizing how VOCs emitted by humans interact and propagate in the environment. In humans, the axillae are a unique source of human odor. In addition to a high density of eccrine glands, the axillae contain large numbers of sebaceous and apocrine glands. The interactions between the cutaneous microflora and skin secretions lead to a complex mix of odorants, several of which are unique to humans. We have begun our investigation of how human-derived odorants emanate into the vapor phase. Our instrumentation has been calibrated for several odorants and how their vapor phase concentration changes with time in a small sealed system. In addition, we have created, a computational model for how human axillary odorants may emanate from the axillae into a room (experimental chamber) under know experimental conditions.