People with similar body odors are more likely to be attracted to the opposite sex, according to a new study published in Physiology & Behavior. In the research conducted in Scotland, 30 heterosexual couples who had been in a relationship for at least six months provided two different body odor samples – with and without body deodorant.
Next, other participants were asked to smell the samples and rate how similar they were to each other.
“The results show us a preference for partners with a similar odor,” noted study leader Dr. Caroline Allen.
The same trend, however, was not observed in the couples ‘ samples when they used deodorant, showing that natural body odors are a key factor in the attractiveness game.
The researchers also looked at how happy the couples looked in their relationship, finding that the more similar the men’s body odor was to their partner’s, the happier they were.
During the study, participants were asked not to exercise, avoid eating foods with strong odors and sleep alone, things that could potentially affect their actual smell.
The research team was able to validate the findings of previous studies that birth control pills could alter body odor and possibly influence mate choice.
