A few days ago, I ran across a fascinating article on a how a person's scent attracts those from the opposite sex. This is probably common knowledge, but it shed light on a few uncommon aspects of scent in relationships. A few snippets:
- Women are highly attracted to male sweat, but there are two kinds. There is a strong attraction to "fresh sweat" which hasn't had much time to interact with oxygen (androstenol) but a strong repulsion to oxidized sweat (androstenone).
- The range of attraction of androstenol is 18 inches but has been known to attract men, as well (I'm assuming they meant in a heterosexual context given the male/female dynamic in the article), which obviously complicates matters.
- Cologne and perfume can be effective in attracting those of the opposite sex but not in a way you would think. The person wearing the scent experiences a boost in mood, making them more appealing rather than the common belief that body sprays and whatnot attract others based on the smell of the product, alone.
This made me pause for a second because I looked back on all the times perfume did make me stop in my tracks when passing a woman. I know pheromones play a big role, but I think the power of perfume/cologne are underestimated.
This also brings up another interesting question: if you're initially attracted to someone based on their scent product rather than their natural scent, are you more or less likely to be continually attracted to them if they stop wearing the product?
What do you think? How much does scent play role in your attraction to the opposite sex?
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Comments (57)
It makes a hugee difference for me :)
a lot. many studies on this. a human is still an animal in this regard. scent triggers chemical reactions in the brain.
a hell of a lot. i loveee a guy that smells good. a clean smelling guy vs. a guy that wears cologne ; the guy that wears cologne can steal the attention.
Every human has a very distinct scent... it varies from one person to another... a main form of attraction is due to one's natural scent. My SO smells of sandlewood and warm vanilla and it makes me jump on him ^.^ he says I smell like clean air and orchids. If you really take the time... wash yourself off with just water or with a scent free soap... dry off... wait about ten minutes or so and have someone come up and litterally smell you and have them tell you what they think... it is very interesting... you will smell different to each person... it was an experiment my college did about a year or so ago.
I love a woman that smells sweet. Dont perfumes/colognes react to the individuals oil in their skin thus making the scent alter in a way? And that's what makes us so attracted to that particular person wearing the scent? I bought my ex Clinique's Happy Heart for Xmas one time, and my god...after she put it on she must've appeared 10x more appealing. She was very pretty already btw...haha.
The smell of a girl fresh out of the shower.
Maybe it's just the shampoo smell. Either way, that's what attracts me.
I don't wear or wash with any scents. I am constantly told I smell good. And then asked what I wear.
My cologne is Bounce dryer sheets. Gets 'em every time
Smell is extremely important. Back in high school, this cute guy asked me out. He was working the concession stand at the movies, and I went up to buy popcorn, and we got to talking, and he asked me out. I thought he was super cute and was excited for the date. However, in close quarters, something about him really turned me off. I just couldn't get hot over him. It's not that he stunk, but he didn't smell sexy to me. Then I figured it out; he smelled just like my grandpa. I mean, exactly. Kind of spicy and woodsy, not a bad smell, but exactly like him. Idk if it was his cologne or what? But I had to tell him that I wasn't going to be able to continue to see him. I just couldn't make out with someone who put me in mind of my grandpa! So I would say smell is really important.
My ex used to wear Adidas Sport, in high school. To this day, everytime I smell someone on the street, wearing that, I think of my ex right away.
Some colognes are really sexy on a man, but not if they are overpowering. He needs to wear just enough that you can smell him when you are dancing close or rest your head on his chest. Then, YES they are SEXY. The David Beckham cologne smells really good, very sexy. Also, Diesel Only the Brave, CK Eternity Summer, Hollister SoCal, and Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce. A lot of these are very popular and lots of guys are wearing them, but they smell good on almost everyone.
I hate when guys go overboard with cologne.
Mmmm smell. Guys really do have to smell good for me to really be attracted to them. My favorite is a guy who isn't wearing cologne-- but doesn't smell sweaty, just has a faint smell of soap or deodorant... hehe =)
One of my first thoughts when I met the guy who is now my boyfriend was
"this guy smells so good!", haha. The way a person smells definitely
plays a big role in my attraction to them. Certain scents can also
remind you of certain people too. The first time I ever stayed over at
my boyfriend's place he texted me the next day saying "my pillow still smells like you". Heh, guess he noticed my scent as well. =]
Oh god, scent plays a major role for me. I love it :P
haha I think sweat on a man smells good but like what it says above kind of fresh sweat if that makes sense. sometimes when my husband comes home from work he smells like sweat and himself and it makes me go crazy. i always tell him that "you have you smell" and than he tells me that he smells like himself all the time..
Considering that the olfactory system plays such an integral role in the forming of memories.. I'd have to say that would certainly have an effect on how attracted we remain to the opposite sex, and also an important part of storing intimate memories of that special someone.
Perfumes/colognes can change smell when applied to different people, but our 'naked' scent is not the only factor in this. Season/sweating/warmth/cold/illness and many other things can certainly change our base odor as well as the scent of applied perfumes/colognes...
I guess what I'm trying to say is we're truly animals in the primitive sense when it comes to these sorts of things. xD
Personally, I think it would vary from person to person considering not everyone considers the same things attractive. To one who bases much of their impressions of people to odor, I could see that person losing some of their attraction to their SO should the scent be drastically changed...
A little bit to quite a lot, if females go over the top it puts me off, sorry
Also I must included their personality into my formula.
Scent is possibly my only real weakness. I can ignore tits almost breaking out of a shirt or an ass you can set a drink on, but if a girl smells good there's no real way to ignore it. Vanilla especially does it for me. My old ex wore it and usually only did so in intimate settings... so I think my brain relates that vanilla scent to sex. Which is good and bad at times.
i definitely think this plays a role! my ex had a particular smell, which i think was mostly comprised of body wash and fabric detergent, and sometimes when i smell him when i'm walking through the mall or something- i know that someone else must have a similar combo. scent is so attractive to me that i don't get too close to my exes when we're hanging out (those who are still my friends) because i know that smelling them will cause me to feel attracted to them again. also, pheromones play a role, and we can't smell those at all! that really trips me out, haha.
I like cologne on men so much that I've bought it for my husband for the past 2 Christmases - Usher and Hollister's Jake. Both smell absolutely FANTASTIC on him and make me want to jump him.
Human beings are conditioned to find certain things sexy that we may not necessarily find to be attractive without this conditioning. For example, is there any reason why lingerie should be considered sexy? It is simply a piece of (skimpy) clothing! I know I've been conditioned to like the scent of Axe deordorant due to dating guys who has used it.
So yeah, scent is pretty big with me ! :]
i think it very important! it can be a huge turn off or a turn on! A sweet smell makes you want to always be around them! for girl i recommend LOVE SPELL by victoria secret.. everyone says their in love with it! or try warm vanilla sugar form bath and body works! & with guys, i like axe, or abercrombie, hollister, or addias! just wear something, it willl grab ppl attention
@tastytimmm@xanga - hahahaha!
scent is a big deal for me. My boyfriend's scent gives me goosebumps and makes me feel all happy inside.
It goes with breath too... i have a hard hard time making out with my boyfriend if he's got bad breath... especially in the mornings! phooey! but yes.. scent plays a big role! and it definitly sparks my memory!