---
title: "Man Asked to Smell Partner's Armpit During Sex in New York City"
url: https://newscentral.site/man-asked-to-smell-partner-s-armpit-during-sex-in-new-york-city/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Style"
published: 2026-10-27T14:55:57.000Z
updated: 2026-10-27T18:38:28.873Z
id: 199d75d1-13ff-4d79-9b24-001652a1b9d2
source: "GQ https://www.gq.com/story/are-armpits-sexy"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/man-asked-to-smell-partner-s-armpit-during-sex-in-new-york-city/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Man Asked to Smell Partner's Armpit During Sex in New York City

A man was asked by his partner to smell their armpits during sex and had to consider how he felt about it.

In a recent intimate encounter, a man found himself in a situation where he was asked to smell his partner's armpits during sex. This unusual request caught him off guard and made him reflect on his own body and its scent.

The incident took place on a hot summer day in New York City, where the air is already thick with humidity. The two men were engaging in physical activity that had caused them to break a sweat, making their bodies even more prone to moisture.

As he considered how to approach this request, he thought about his own body odor and wondered if it would be pleasant or unpleasant for his partner. He associated strong-smelling armpits with poor hygiene, which made him hesitant at first.

However, his desire to please his partner won out, and he leaned in to smell the other man's armpit. To his surprise, the scent was distinct and not overpowering. It wasn't a pleasant or unpleasant smell, but rather a unique combination that seemed specific to his partner.

The act of smelling his partner's armpit was not just about the scent itself, but also about the intimacy and closeness it implied. The man realized that he had never really thought about his own armpits in this way before, but now they felt like a part of his body that was connected to his sexuality.

This experience has made him reevaluate his perception of his own body and its scent, and consider the role that body odor plays in intimacy and attraction.

For years, I had a skewed perception of what people asked about in casual conversations. It was all about the usual topics: positions, bondage, submission, and other kink-related discussions that I pretended to be familiar with.

However, there was one category that always seemed to slip under my radar: personal scent. Specifically, men's armpits and the musk associated with them. Given my own high sweat levels, which often left me questioning whether my deodorant had actually done its job, this oversight seems strange in hindsight.

As someone who sweats excessively even when simply walking around the corner to the pharmacy, I have always been hyper-aware of my body's odor. Before hitting the gym, I would often check my armpits multiple times to ensure that my antiperspirant had taken effect. And after a particularly intense workout, I've stood in line at Starbucks, quietly dreading the possibility of offending those around me with my own scent.

In theory, I understand the concept of personal scent and its role in attraction. When friends experience separation from their loved ones, they often miss the familiar scents associated with them, like a partner's sweatshirt or pillowcase. This can evoke strong emotional responses and even serve as a trigger for intimacy.

The connection between scent and desire is complex and multifaceted. We often pick up on subtle cues about people's fragrances without even realizing it, which can either draw us closer or push us away. However, there seems to be a distinct difference between wanting someone's sweatshirt and seeking out their armpit scent directly.

This dichotomy has made me reevaluate my own perception of body odor and its significance in intimate relationships. It raises questions about what we find attractive and why, and whether our preferences are based on logic or instinct.

The way we think about body odor and sweat is often influenced by societal norms and expectations. Men are typically encouraged to eliminate any signs of natural scent or body hair, viewing it as a sign of personal hygiene rather than attraction.

However, in some subcultures, such as those within the gay male community, hairy pits and their natural smell can be seen as erotic. This is not because they are inherently masculine traits, but rather due to cultural associations that have been assigned to them.

For individuals who find this aspect of masculinity attractive, it's a matter of personal preference rather than a reflection of societal norms. It highlights the complex relationship between attraction and social conditioning, where what we find appealing can be influenced by both logic and instinct.

The idea that natural scent and body hair can be erotic challenges traditional notions of attractiveness and beauty. In mainstream culture, men are often expected to conform to certain standards of grooming and hygiene, which can lead to a sense of shame or embarrassment around their own bodies.

This dichotomy raises questions about the role of socialization in shaping our preferences and values. Do we learn what is attractive based on cultural norms, or do we intuitively respond to certain characteristics? The intersection of logic and instinct in attraction remains a complex and multifaceted issue.

The intersection of logic and instinct in attraction remains a complex and multifaceted issue. This tension is reflected in the way we approach personal hygiene, particularly when it comes to body odor. Some argue that bad body odor is a problem that needs to be addressed through deodorants or antiperspirants.

However, others suggest that this approach can lead to a kind of cultural erasure, where natural scents are suppressed rather than celebrated. This is the philosophy behind a new brand of personal care products designed specifically for gay men, which seeks to complement and enhance their natural scent rather than covering it up entirely.

The founder of the brand notes that when he's out at a gay bar, he doesn't want to be overwhelmed by the smell of cologne, but rather experience the unique scent of his partner. This perspective highlights the importance of considering scent as part of one's overall presentation, much like clothing or hair style.

In fact, some argue that our cultural obsession with suppressing body odor has had a profound impact on how we think about intimacy and vulnerability. By hiding our natural scents, we're also hiding aspects of ourselves that are deeply connected to our physicality and desire.

This idea is echoed by sex educator Kort, who suggests that the parts of our bodies or minds that we're taught to hide are often the very things that become eroticized in a consensual sexual context. In this way, abandoning the rules around personal hygiene can feel like a kind of liberation, allowing us to experience and express ourselves more authentically.

The notion that sweat can be seen as a sign of exertion, desire, and surrender rather than something unclean is a powerful one, and challenges us to rethink our relationship with our bodies and their natural functions.

Gay male culture has never been bound by rigid grooming standards, unlike other communities where a single script is often expected. Instead, there's a diverse range of styles, from smooth and polished to rugged and unkempt. This diversity in presentation can be attributed to the fact that gay men may experience masculinity through two distinct lenses: their desires for others and how they want to be perceived themselves.

When it comes to body hair, some gay men eroticize its presence or musky scent in partners, which can lead them to preserve or display these traits as a way of feeling masculine and desirable. This dynamic has left many questioning the purpose of grooming, particularly when it comes to armpit hair. If something that's meant to be removed is actually desired by others, what exactly are we trying to achieve through grooming?

Grooming expert Chris Salgardo offers some insight into this conundrum. He recommends adopting a more relaxed approach to body care, allowing the natural state of one's skin and hair to prevail. According to him, a well-groomed armpit is simply one that's left untouched.

For those who still feel anxious about their armpits, Salgardo suggests a light trim using clippers. However, he cautions against taking it too far, as the goal should be to tidy up without making it look like you've put in effort. This approach focuses on subtlety rather than attempting to completely eliminate body hair.

Interestingly, removing hair is not necessarily synonymous with improved hygiene. Salgardo emphasizes that natural armpit hair can coexist with excellent personal cleanliness. This realization challenges the notion that grooming advice often centers around subtraction, removing hair, eliminating odors, and drying sweat, in favor of a more nuanced approach to self-care.

The emphasis on subtraction in men's grooming advice raises questions about its underlying assumptions. Are we being told that our natural state is inherently unclean or unacceptable? By reevaluating these premises, perhaps we can develop a more inclusive understanding of what it means to be clean and presentable.

The conversation around personal hygiene and intimacy can be complex and multifaceted.

As I reflect on my experience, it's clear that the notion of being "clean is subjective and influenced by cultural norms. While using deodorant or antiperspirant may seem like a necessary step in maintaining good hygiene, it's also possible to overdo it and sacrifice one's natural scent in the process.

Research suggests that scent can be a powerful trigger for emotions and memories, but what constitutes an appealing smell is highly individualized. What one person finds attractive or arousing might be perceived as unpleasant or neutral by another.

The distinction between being clean and smelling like a freshly wiped countertop" highlights the tension between personal hygiene and natural body odor. In my experience, it was only when I began to understand the significance of scent in intimacy that I started to view my armpits with new interest.

Ultimately, what constitutes cleanliness is a matter of personal preference, and being open-minded about the role of scent in intimacy can lead to a more nuanced understanding of ourselves and our relationships.

---
Source: [GQ](https://www.gq.com/story/are-armpits-sexy)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/man-asked-to-smell-partner-s-armpit-during-sex-in-new-york-city/