What is Foot odor?
'''Foot odor''' (or '''foot odour''') is a type of body odor that affects the [[foot|feet]] of [[human|humans]]. Some people think it is an unpleasant smell. Others may enjoy it when they have a [[foot fetishism|foot fetish]] or [[olfactophilia]] (being attracted to certain smells).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/fetish.html#freud|title=The History of Footwear - Foot Fetish and Shoe Retifism|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018035445/http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/fetish.html#freud |access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=2007-10-18 }}</ref> A 1994 study found that 45% of people with a foot fetish were also aroused by smelly socks and/or feet.<ref>{{citation |title=Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology |author1=Patricia B. Sutker |author2=Henry E. Adams |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEx84FQPYoAC|page=762 |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-306-46490-4}}</ref> ==Causes== The main cause of foot odor is foot [[sweat]]. Sweat itself does not smell a lot, but some bacteria can grow better in a sweaty environment, which then cause the odor. These bacteria are normally on our skin and are not harmful. The front part of the foot produces the most sweat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ijisr.com/sites/default/files/issues-pdf/034.pdf|title=INTERACTION OF SILVER NITRATE WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COTTON SOCKS; RELATIONSHIP TO THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTION OF SILVER IONS|date=21 February 2015|access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827012526/http://www.ijisr.com/sites/default/files/issues-pdf/034.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sweating on the feet can be increased by wearing closed [[shoes]] or [[boots]]. Especially thick materials such as [[leather]] or [[rubber]] will hold the sweat in them and can increase the odor intensity. Certain types of socks can also make the smell stronger. ==Odor qualities== The quality (aroma) of foot odor is often described as thick and smelling like [[cheese]]. This is because some of the bacteria that create fo