Why You’re So Attracted to Certain People’s Scents
Pheromones are just one of several factors at hand.
For as long as you’ve been old enough to date, you’ve likely been hearing a lot about pheromones pretty. The word “pheromone” is often used interchangeably with something like “self-produced love potion,” but all it actually means is a chemical produced by one animal that changes the behavior of another.
The science on pheromones and how they affect human attraction is iffy, to say the least. For instance, one review of academic studies on the topic found that many such studies were poorly done, and that pheromone studies on the whole don’t account for other factors that form attraction between thinking, feeling human beings. But whether it’s rooted in biology or not, scent matters — 81% of OkCupid members say that a potential mate’s smell is important, and 77% of OkCupid members say it’s important that they themselves smell good for a date.
Because few people are blessed with a naturally pleasing scent, most people try to improve the way they smell with a number of methods and products. These practices make for a much more contentious topic among OkCupid members. When asked which “olfactory strategy” they preferred a partner take when on a date, 34% answered “perfume/aftershave/cologne,” 26% answered “deodorant only,” 18% answered “clean and natural” (which still suggests recent use of body soap, at the very least), and 1% answered “sweatiness is godliness.” The remaining 22% skipped the question.
One 2016 study found that artificial fragrances could be used to enhance one’s biologically evolved preferences — i.e. to make oneself more “masculine” or “feminine,” and therefore highlight all the characteristics associated with those labels. Interestingly, the same study cites previous research which found that straight women are turned off by the appearance of extreme masculinity, whereas straight men are not turned off by the appearance of extreme femininity. The researchers suggest this is especially useful information for cologne and perfume makers, but it might be worth keeping in mind when you’re getting ready for a date, too. Contrary to the messaging of most Axe commercials, there is such a thing as smelling too manly.
Much of the scientific research on smell confirms what we already know: sexual attraction is a very mysterious and very personal thing. There is no clear formula for what attracts one person to another, and there is no one-size-fits-all pheromone to make oneself attractive to everyone (despite what this particular product may claim). And who would want that, really? Part of what makes this fun is the unpredictability of what attracts you to someone new. What smells sexy to you may not smell sexy to your date, or vice versa. But an olfactory mismatch need not be an absolute deal breaker — body soaps, antiperspirants, and perfumes and colognes all make pretty decent gifts for a significant other, so long as you don’t hand them over with a plugged nose and a note that reads “you stink.”
Written by Katie Heaney.
Find your olfactory match right now on OkCupid. Or hey, answer that question to make sure future dates know how you feel.
