Actor Hwang Jung-min [Sam Company]
Actor Hwang Jung-min [Sam Company]

Actor Hwang Jung-min, 55, has admitted that his 20-year-old son's bedroom has a smell problem — prompting a closer look at what causes the distinctive odor of adult men and how to deal with it.

Hwang made the remark during a recent appearance on the YouTube channel "Tteundteun," where he spotted an air freshener on set and quipped, "When I walk into my 20-year-old son's room, I get so annoyed. You'd need about 200 of those things."

Fellow guest Yoo Jae-suk sympathized, recalling that his own parents used to open the window whenever they entered his room as a teenager. "No matter how many air fresheners you put in a son's room, there's always that strong, distinctive smell," he said.

[Getty Images Bank]
[Getty Images Bank]

The body odor that develops in adult men is not simply the result of poor hygiene. Some attribute it to "hormone smell," but that explanation is only half right.

Testosterone does not itself have a strong scent. It does, however, stimulate the sebaceous glands and sweat glands, increasing the production of sebum and sweat — and that is where the odor originates.

The bigger culprit is bacteria. When bacteria break down sweat and sebum on the skin, they produce volatile compounds that generate the characteristic smell. This is why the odor tends to be strongest in males in their late teens and early 20s, when testosterone levels are at their peak.

Air fresheners alone will not solve the problem. More effective measures include washing clothes and bedding frequently and keeping the room well ventilated.


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