Any guy who’s honest with himself knows that on occasion, he reeks of a penis odor that is both strong and unpleasant. It’s also well-known that many women rank penis odor high on their list of objectionable traits, especially as it may indicate that the owner of such a penis cares far too little about his penis health. But is it possible that penis odor is not always a turn-off for a woman? And if so, should a guy simply let his manhood reek instead of going to the trouble of keeping it well-washed?

Different strokes

Before this goes further, it’s essential to acknowledge a simple truth: there are different strokes for different folks. What is a turn-off for one woman is a hotly-desired turn-on for another and vice versa. That’s why there’s both chocolate and vanilla (and dozens of other flavors), and why different women could react in unique ways to the same kind and degree of penis odor on the same man at the same time.

Why would it be appealing?

The next thing to do is to answer the question, "Why would any woman a stinky penis to be attractive?" Again leaving aside personal preferences, there’s a very simple answer, and it’s one that has received a lot of play online in recent years: that old devil, the pheromone.

What are pheromones?

For anyone who has been living under a rock for the past couple of decades, pheromones are sex hormones known to produce a distinctive scent. Lots of movies, TV shows, books and comic books have gotten a lot of mileage out of dropping pheromones into a plot for some easy laughs and/or fan-service sex scenes. But while pheromone use in pop culture vastly oversimplifies things, it does get the basic gist straight: Pheromones are strong sexual stimuli, albeit one which typically causes an unconscious arousal or interest in a potential partner.

Pheromones are something that men (and women, for that matter) create simply as a matter of course. Their production tends to be more active in times of interest in sexual activity - not surprisingly. And in men, the pheromones most typically are released through sweat. (That’s one reason why hot, sweaty sex can tend to be especially intense.)

Sweat it out

So basically, all a guy needs to do to get a woman interested in him is work up a sweat, especially when he’s ready for some action, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

It turns out that not all sex hormone-drenched sweat is equal. Essentially, pheromone-laced sweat that is fresh is appealing; pheromone-laced sweat that is old is repulsive. That fresh hormone - called androstenal - is the kind that appears as a couple is getting interested in each other or as they’re moving through the mechanics of sexual involvement. The stale kind - called androstenone - is the sweat that’s been out for a while and has absorbed a lot of oxygen. That interaction with the oxygen changes the basic make-up, swiftly transforming it from a scent that says "Come and get it" to one that says "Head for the hills."

Penis odor

As luck would have it, this means that most of the time the sweat that accumulates and dries on the penis is going to be filled with unwanted androstenone. And because the penis is (usually) kept beneath a heat-creating double layer of underwear and trousers, it’s likely to accumulate an abundance of sweat and the resultant penis odor. (This is one reason why "airing out" the penis a few hours a day is often a good idea.)

So regrettably, most penis odor is a turn-off rather than a turn-on - which means the fight against it must continue unabated. To help win that fight, try a top flight penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) that contains vitamin A. Wonderful vitamin A is packed with antibacterial properties that can help attack and control the excess bacteria that cause rank penis odor. A crème with a range of other vitamins, especially B5, C, D and E can help maintain overall penis health, thereby lessening the chance of an odor emergency.