Body odour and sexual attraction

Odour is sensory stimulation of the olfactory membrane of the nose[1] by a group of molecules.[2] Certain body odours are connected to human sexual attraction.[3][4] Humans can make use of body odour subconsciously to identify whether a potential mate will pass on favourable traits to their offspring. Body odour may provide significant cues about the genetic quality, health[5] and reproductive success of a potential mate.[6][7]

Body odour affects sexual attraction in a number of ways including through human biology, the menstrual cycle and fluctuating asymmetry. The olfactory membrane plays a role in smelling and subconsciously assessing another human's pheromones.[8] It also affects the sexual attraction of insects and mammals. The major histocompatibility complex genes are important for the immune system, and appear to play a role in sexual attraction via body odour. Studies have shown that body odour is strongly connected with attraction in heterosexual females. The women in one study ranked body odour as more important for attraction than "looks". Humans may not simply depend on visual and verbal senses to be attracted to a possible partner/mate.[9]

  1. ^ "Know sweat: scientists solve mystery behind body odour". the Guardian. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  2. ^ Michael, Stoddart, D. Michael (David) (1976-01-01). Mammalian odours and pheromones. Edward Arnold.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Spehr, Marc; Kelliher, Kevin R.; Li, Xiao-Hong; Boehm, Thomas; Leinders-Zufall, Trese; Zufall, Frank (2006-02-15). "Essential Role of the Main Olfactory System in Social Recognition of Major Histocompatibility Complex Peptide Ligands". Journal of Neuroscience. 26 (7): 1961–1970. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4939-05.2006. PMC 6674934. PMID 16481428.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference singh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "What Your Body Odor Says About You". Time. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  6. ^ Havlicek, Jan; Roberts, S. Craig; Flegr, Jaroslav (2005). "Women's preference for dominant male odour: effects of menstrual cycle and relationship status". Biology Letters. 1 (3): 256–259. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2005.0332. PMC 1617143. PMID 17148181.
  7. ^ Watson, Stephanie (2021-09-15). "What's that smell? Get rid of body odor". Harvard Health. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  8. ^ Grammer, Karl; Fink, Bernhard; Neave, Nick (February 2005). "Human pheromones and sexual attraction". European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 118 (2): 135–142. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.08.010. PMID 15653193.
  9. ^ Herz, Rachel S.; Inzlicht, Michael (September 2002). "Sex differences in response to physical and social factors involved in human mate selection". Evolution and Human Behavior. 23 (5): 359–364. doi:10.1016/S1090-5138(02)00095-8.