We report here the initial examination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 
emanating from human earwax (cerumen). Recent studies link a single nucleotide 
polymorphism (SNP) in the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding cassette, 
sub-family C, member 11 gene (ABCC11) to the production of different types of 
axillary odorants and cerumen. ABCC11 encodes an ATP-driven efflux pump protein 
that plays an important function in ceruminous apocrine glands of the auditory 
canal and the secretion of axillary odor precursors. The type of cerumen and 
underarm odor produced by East Asians differ markedly from that produced by 
non-Asians. In this initial report we find that both groups emit many of the 
same VOCs but differ significantly in the amounts produced. The principal 
odorants are volatile organic C2-to-C6 acids. The physical appearance of cerumen 
from the two groups also matches previously reported ethnic differences, viz., 
cerumen from East Asians appears dry and white while that from non-Asians is 
typically wet and yellowish-brown.