London, May 6 (ANI): Get ready for getting an artificial tan that won’t leave you with a body odour, thanks to the new Aromaguard technology that chemically neutralises self-tanning lotion’s nasty smell.

A research team led by Tim Whiteley of CPL Aromas in Bishop’s Stortford, UK, used established techniques called headspace and thermal desorption analysis to capture odour molecules from the air, as self tan was applied to various skin types.

In their study, the researchers identified 250 to 300 different molecules. They found that some particularly smelly ones, including sulphur dioxide, were specific to the reaction between collagen and the chemical dihydroxyacetone (DHA)- an active ingredient in fake tan.

The researchers also observed that the male skin generated the most smell, which could possibly be because the upper layer of skin in men is thicker, so there is more collagen for the DHA to react with.

They later tested chemicals, which they thought would react with the smelly molecules to produce larger molecules that could no longer be smelled, or a different shape that would be perceived differently by the nose.

Using their method, the researchers could reduce sulphur dioxide 12-fold, and several other smelly molecules by a significant amount, reports New Scientist magazine.

When professional sniffers were asked to test the smell, they reported a 70 per cent reduction in their perception of the unpleasant smell on users’ skin.

The Aromaguard technology was launched last week in St Tropez self-tan products. (ANI)