At the heart of our fascination with our partner's scent lies the science of pheromones. (Source: Freepik)
You remember the ad for that one deodorant where one swipe of perfume would have women falling over themselves to get to the man? Unlike what the makers of that deodorant would have you believe, the sense of smell doesn’t work that way.
In matters of love, the senses play a profound role, with touch, sight, and sound often taking centre stage. However, one often overlooked yet incredibly powerful aspect of attraction is the sense of smell. There’s an undeniable allure to the unique fragrance of our romantic partners, a phenomenon that goes beyond simple biology.
At the heart of our fascination with our partner’s scent lies the science of pheromones. Pheromones are chemical signals emitted by the body that play a role in attraction and communication between individuals. While the science behind human pheromones is still a subject of debate, there’s a consensus that our natural scents can influence how we perceive and are drawn to others.
But before we can understand any of that, we need to know how olfaction, or smelling, works in our bodies.
What goes behind our like or dislike of a smell?
Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, consultant psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai, explained that molecules from substances having smell (e.g. food/flowers/etc) enter the nostrils and interact with a small patch of specialised tissue having millions of receptors (like your erogenous zones) responsible for detecting specific odours.
Thus the brain interprets smell based on previous experiences. (Repesentational: File/Google DeepMind via Pexels)
“From here the signals go to the olfactory cortex in the brain, which integrates this information with other sensory inputs to create the perception of the smell. Thus the brain interprets smell based on previous experiences,” Dr Ajinkya told indianexpress.com.
This is why we have strong emotional responses to certain smells as they trigger certain memories or emotions; and why the sense of smell is highly individualised and varies from person to person.
How is this linked to the attraction towards our partner’s scent?
Our brains are experts at associating smells with emotions and experiences. Each individual possesses a unique combination of genetic markers that contribute to their natural scent. This personalised fragrance becomes intertwined with memories and emotions, creating a distinct olfactory identity.
Over time, as a relationship develops and positive experiences are shared, the brain may start to associate the partner’s scents with these positive emotions, Dr Ajinkya explained.
“Humans can adapt to and become more accepting through repeated exposure to a person/event. That which might initially be perceived as unfamiliar becomes more pleasant over time. This process of adaptation can also contribute to growing fondness of a partner’s scent,” Dr Ajinkya elaborated.
What determines which smell will attract us?
In the dance of romance, words are not the sole communicators. The attraction to certain smells can be due to a combination of pheromones, genetic compatibility, and positive associations with the partner.
Consider the example of attraction to the smell of a partner’s sweat. While this might seem counterintuitive, research has shown that individuals are attracted to a partner’s natural body odour during times of intimacy.
Cultural and personal factors also play a significant role in shaping preferences. “If a particular smell is associated with positive memories, it becomes attractive. Someone who grew up in a household where a specific type of cuisine was regularly prepared may find the associated smells comforting,” Dr Ajinkya explained.
FAQs
At the heart of our fascination with our partner's scent lies the science of pheromones. Pheromones are chemical signals emitted by the body that play a role in attraction and communication between individuals.
Why do we like the smell of someone we love? ›
When you're attracted to someone, you're more likely to be drawn to how they smell. Our olfactory senses are our most primal senses — alluring and captivating. Often known as the love hormone, we release pheromones (oxytocin), when we're attracted to someone, causing one to be drawn to someone's smell.
What does it mean when you like your partner's body odor? ›
“[Attraction to body odor is] about assessing a mate for physical health and who would be more likely to produce healthy offspring with you,” certified sex and relationships therapist Sarah Levinson says.
What does it mean if someone likes the way you smell? ›
When you're attracted to someone, you're more likely to be drawn to their smell.” Some say that we release pheromones (oxytocin), also referred to as “love hormones,” when there's an attraction — causing one to be drawn to someone's smell, she explains.
Why is smell so important in a relationship? ›
Scents dictate the choices we make about which people we choose to surround ourselves with – and whom we avoid. Scents make us feel and remember, and can affect your presence in any given situation. It may also be the reason why “smell dating” has appeared as a method of finding the one for you.
Why do I like the smell of my boyfriend so much? ›
At the heart of our fascination with our partner's scent lies the science of pheromones. Pheromones are chemical signals emitted by the body that play a role in attraction and communication between individuals.
Why do I like the way my girlfriend smells? ›
Some people think their partner smells so good because of pheromones, which are chemicals that act like hormones outside of the body, influencing others' behavior, Dr. Navya Mysore, M.D., a provider at One Medical. In animals, pheromones signal that it's time to mate, or warn that an enemy is approaching.
Can guys smell when a girl is turned on? ›
University of Kent research suggests that men can distinguish between the scents of sexually aroused and non-aroused women. The detection of sexual arousal through smell may function as an additional channel in the communication of sexual interest and provide further verification of human sexual interest.
What does "stink stink" mean in a relationship? ›
This isn't a very common phrase, but if your partner calls you their “stink,” it's sort of a sweet nickname, like “babe,” “love,” or, “sweetheart.” There's a slight hint of teasing with “stink” that isn't there with other nicknames, but it's almost always meant in good fun.
Can a woman smell a man's pheromones? ›
One of these steroidal compounds, androstadienone, is present at much higher concentrations in male sweat and can be detected by women, albeit with wide variation in sensitivity.
Olfactophilia or osmolagnia is a paraphilia for, or sexual arousal by, smells and odors emanating from the body, especially the sexual areas. Sigmund Freud used the term osphresiolagnia in reference to pleasure caused by odors.
What is a man's natural scent called? ›
Androstenol is the scent produced by fresh male sweat, and is attractive to females. Androstenone is produced by male sweat after exposure to oxygen – i.e. when less fresh – and is perceived as highly unpleasant by females (except during ovulation, when their responses change from 'negative' to 'neutral').
What is the natural scent of a woman called? ›
Similarly, a sniff may give away a woman's gender — but only to people attracted to women. The study suggests the human body produces chemical signals, called pheromones. And these scents affect how one person perceives another.
Should you like the way your partner smells? ›
Liking a partner's scent predicts higher levels of relationship commitment. People are more likely to report wanting to break up after sniffing an unpleasant odor from their partner. Scent may play an important role in commitment because of its potential to encourage or discourage intimacy.
Why do I like the smell of my boyfriend's sweat? ›
HLA- linked olfactory receptor genes can therefore provide a possible mechanism for detecting HLA- specific odours. Androstenol, found in fresh male sweat, is attractive to women. Men and women are attracted to the pheromones they produce and HLA is related to the perceptions of other peoples' odours.
Do men fall in love through scent? ›
Pheromones and sexuality
Pheromones may also have a link to human sexuality. A 2005 study that tested individuals of different sexual orientations suggested that hom*osexual men were attracted to the scent of men who were also hom*osexual. Meanwhile, the scent of women usually aroused heterosexual men.
Why does someone smell good to me? ›
The answer has to do with hormones—specifically, pheromones. “Pheromones are chemicals that animals and humans produce, which change and influence the behavior of another animal or human of the same species,” says Erica Spiegelman, wellness specialist, recovery counselor, and author of The Rewired Life.
What is it called when you love smells? ›
Olfactophilia or osmolagnia is a paraphilia for, or sexual arousal by, smells and odors emanating from the body, especially the sexual areas. Sigmund Freud used the term osphresiolagnia in reference to pleasure caused by odors.
Why do I smell my crush's scent? ›
It's likely someone is on your mind consciously or unconsciously and something triggered your memory and the strong emotions associated with that person and recreated their scent as if you can smell it in the moment,or maybe for a split second.
Can you fall in love with a smell? ›
The simple answer is, it is too soon and science has yet to unlock all the facets of our sense of smell. In order to trigger emotions and memories, a scent has to resonate more deeply than a marketing phrase or a nice smell. This depends on one's history, culture and personal experiences.
At the heart of our fascination with our partner's scent lies the science of pheromones. (Source: Freepik)
Thus the brain interprets smell based on previous experiences. (Repesentational: File/Google DeepMind via Pexels)