Why you stink so horribly...

[Jeff.Donohue 0]

So here's an interesting thing I discovered:

Every time I'd come home from skydiving, the T-shirt I'd wear would smell terribly. I mean really nasty.

I'm not OCD or anything, but I'm a relatively clean guy (I like my shower time!). But I was amazed at how much stinkier my t-shirt would be after a day of skydiving than, for example, a 10 mile run.

This puzzled me: I figured I probably would sweat a lot more on a long run than on, for example, a skydive (and I still think that's true). So why the difference in aroma?

I thought I was emitting "fear pheromones" or something, but I'm a lawyer, not a scientist... Whenever I get puzzled by things biological ("you mean he puts THAT in her WHAT?"), I ask my microbiologist friend for an explanation. Here's what I learned from her:

"Sweat is different for anxiety than exertion. When you work out it is salty sweat (eccrine); stress sweat (apocrine) has a lot of lipids. The bacteria loooooove the lipids, and that's what you smell (the bacterial by-products, actually). Additionally, more testosterone results in more apocrine, which is why guys' stress sweat smells so much worse..."

I realize that I'm probably reducing the chances of anyone sitting next to me on the next lift up, but I thought you might find this interesting from an "Ask Dr. Science" perspective.

Now where's my Right Guard?

[Lindercles 0]

Well ain't you just a fart smeller!

[tmaricle55 0]

Very Interesting!!

Muff Brother # 3883, SCR # 14796 ICD # 1 - Pres.
Yeah, I noticed and I think it's funny!

[waltappel 1]

When I jump I get so scared that I piss all over myself!

Walt

[monkycndo 0]

I tend to be a bit ripe after skydiving. I think it is because I sweat for a bit then stop. Repeat this throughout the day and the aroma/funk just builds up. I try and be considerate by wet toweling mid day if I think it could be a stanky day of jumping.

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You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[brianfry713 0]

My girlfriend usually tells me I smell like airplane exhaust fumes after a day of jumping.

[AggieDave 6]

I think its the changes in our body tempurature consistantly again and again over the course of the day. From 60F to 100F, altitude to the ground. I think it messes up our body a bit in regards to sweating.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[tmaricle55 0]

YIKES!! LOL

Muff Brother # 3883, SCR # 14796 ICD # 1 - Pres.
Yeah, I noticed and I think it's funny!

[teamjenn1 0]

Well then...you smell like pee

***********************************
"His dick is ringing!" Female Skydiver

"Well...answer it!!!" Male Skydiver

[Lindercles 0]

Quote

When I jump I get so scared that I piss all over myself!

Walt

Huh, I always figured that lingering piss smell about you was a hold over from some especially intense mental patient piss bomb.