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In a discovery not to be sniffed at, British scientists have identified the bug behind body odour.

The find paves the way for super-deodorants that leave people smelling sweeter for longer.

Confidence would be boosted and summer journeys in crowded Tube and train carriages would be more pleasant.

The hope comes from York University research into the science of BO. It was already known that sweat itself is odourless.

A scientific breakthrough could pave the way for super deodorant that leaves people smelling sweeter for longer

The problem occurs when bacteria feast on the sugary proteins in it, releasing foul-smelling chemicals called thioalcohols in the process.

Thioalcohols are so pungent that even tiny amounts – one drop in a trillion drops of water – can create a stink.

Armed with this information, the scientists set about identifying which bugs make the most thioalcohols.

Study of around 20 different types of bacteria that live on the skin and under the arm revealed just three that could do it well.

All were members of the Staphylococcus family, the Society for General Microbiology's annual conference in Birmingham heard.

The scientists were able to identify the key genes and show that when they were placed in the E coli stomach bug, it gained the ability to make sweat smell.

Lead researcher Dr Dan Bawdon said: 'This work has significantly advanced our understanding of the specific biochemical processes involved in body odour production.

Existing deodorants simply kill as many under-arm bacteria as possible but new research will allow the creation of 'super- deodorants' that zero-in on the important bugs

'It was surprising that this particular body odour pathway is governed by only a small number of the many bacterial species residing in the underarm.'

Existing deodorants simply kill as many under-arm bacteria as possible.

Armed with this new knowledge, it may be possible to formulate 'super- deodorants' that zero-in on the important bugs.

Unilever, which makes Lynx and Sure deodorants, helped fund the research and is using the information in its labs.

Dr Gavin Thomas, the York University biologist who supervised the study, said: 'The detailed molecular understanding of a process that is happening in our armpits every day and is completely dependent on bacteria is really exciting.

'If you could specifically remove the bugs that make the thioalcohols, you would reduce people's production of body odour.'

The scientists now want to study the bugs behind a second chemical, which joins thioalcohols in giving sweat its distinctive smell.

Previous research has found that the armpit odours of men and women are very different, with women, apparently, smelling of onions and grapefruit, and men, of cheese.

And despite the saying that horses sweat, men perspire and women glow, the smell from the female's armpits was rated as more unpleasant.