Why does perspiration sometimes smell like cannabis?

You may have experienced it yourself: some people smell the weed. So, reality or fantasy?

Humans naturally maintain a body temperature of around 37°C. When the temperature rises, the body compensates by producing sweat, a mixture of salt and water. This comes into contact with bacteria on our skin, sometimes resulting in maceration and unpleasant odors.

Many factors influence the production of perspiration. Heat, of course, but also stress, genetics, the immune system and alcohol.

According to the media Vice, Matan Shelomi, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, has been investigating the subject. He compared studies on chemical compounds in cannabis as well as those found in human perspiration. He found 11 chemical compounds in common in perspiration and cannabis.

«It seems that some of the compounds most strongly associated with the aroma of cannabis are also found in gym socks».

According to him, the cannabis-scented perspiration comes from the merocrine «falsely apocrine» sweat glands, the glands found under the armpits and around the genitals, which produce transparent sweat (as opposed to the «eccrine» sweat glands found everywhere else).

Terpenes also modify body odor

The terpenes, the molecules responsible for cannabis’ aromas, could also modify body odor, according to Dr. Justin Fischedick, a researcher at the Université de Montréal.’Institute of Biological Chemistry of the Washington State University.

Terpenes are present in many plants, such as mango, lavender or lemon. This could also explain why some people say they smell of cannabis when they don't, as the chemical compounds are similar.

Finally, taking tomatoes as an example, a study published in the magazine Medical Hypotheses that this food also contains a terpene, lycopene, responsible for body odor.

Conclusion: yes, you can sweat weed (and stink weed at the same time) without being a heavy smoker, or without ever having smoked. And there, it's harder to hide the smell of cannabis.

Mehdi Bautier