Armpit Testers, Cleveland, Ohio

These researchers worked at Hill Top Research Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio and every morning about 75 men and women would parade through their labs and offer up their pits, feet, breath and other private parts in the name of olfactory science. Every individual has a unique chemistry, a complex odor signature that behaves quite differently to smell masks, like underarm deodorant. What may smell fine on one person others may be objectionable on another. Although the armpit testers themselves told me they loved their jobs, the picture has become an icon of sorts for miserable jobs. (LS)

All photographs © Louie Psihoyos, all rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise -- without the written permission of the copyright owner. Site design by Michael Harrison, © 2003, all rights reserved.