There are two types of sweat glands in our body: eccrine and apocrine. That watery sweat you see after, say, an intense spin class is from your eccrine glands, which are found all over your body.

PALCA: And these apocrine glands are found mostly in the groin and armpits. Apocrine sweat contributes to the fragrance of compounds emanating from those areas. So there you are.

Apocrine glands open into the hair follicle and are found in hair-bearing areas, such as the skin, armpits, and groin. These glands secrete a milky fluid, usually as a response to stress.

When the apocrine glands are activated, they release a substance that contains lipids and proteins. This substance is like avocado toast for the bacteria on your skin — they devour it.