We have seen it a thousand times in fiction: perfumes and patches that release a fragrance capable of driving someone crazy who perceives it. Once you smell it, there is no turning back; there is something in the air that enchants, as if Eros shoots an arrow and hits the bullseye. Can a simple smell awaken desire?
Women emit a different scent during ovulation and men can perceive it, according to a study from the University of Tokyo. The research concludes that certain compounds in female body odor increase during this period and subtly influence male perceptions.
In short: the armpit stops smelling like a puddle and releases aromatic hints that spark some interest. "We identified three components of body odor that increased during ovulatory periods. When men smelled a mixture of these compounds and a model armpit odor, they rated the samples as less unpleasant and the accompanying women's images as more attractive and feminine," explains Kazushige Touhara, professor and researcher of the study, in a statement.
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"Furthermore, we found that these compounds relaxed men and even reduced the amount of amylase (a stress biomarker) in their saliva. Therefore, the results suggest that body odor may contribute, in some way, to communication between men and women," he continues.
What do armpits smell like during ovulation?
Among the three "aromatic secrets" detected by researchers is (E)-geranylacetone, a compound formed by the oxidation of squalene present in the skin. Its scent is floral or green and easily recognizable by the human sense of smell.
The second one is tetradecanoic acid and it has an aroma similar to oxidized sebum. It is found not only in the skin but also in saliva, breast milk, and even in amniotic fluid. Interestingly, in newborns, this compound triggers sucking responses.
The third one completing the trio is (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid, also known as palmitoleic acid. Although it has almost no odor, it acts as a precursor to other compounds that are released as the skin ages.
Not all are equally beautified by odor
To reach conclusions, they first collected sweat samples from 21 women in the four phases of the cycle (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal) using gauze in the armpits. The exact moment of each phase was determined with tests for the luteinizing hormone (LH), body temperature measurement, and, in some cases, analysis of estradiol and progesterone in saliva.
Then, a total of 21 men smelled the samples and rated both their intensity and pleasantness. The analysis showed that armpit odor in the ovulatory phase was perceived as more pleasant; more specifically, it was more often described as 'fragrant' and less as 'vinegary'.
After this result, the researchers wanted to check if the initial attractiveness of the person influenced. The odor that can make you appear "prettier" to male eyes does not affect everyone equally. For this, they prepared eight images of female faces and asked men to evaluate them. Based on those assessments, they created an average that allowed them to classify the photos into two groups: those with high attractiveness and those with low attractiveness.
When exposed to the ovulatory aroma, the faces in the "less attractive" group received significantly higher scores, while there were no changes in the highly attractive ones. This suggests that certain compounds emitted during ovulation can enhance the positive impression that men have of some women, especially when the initial perception is more neutral.
After this study, it cannot be conclusively stated that the compounds affecting the odor are human pheromones. The classic definition of these substances is that of specific chemical compounds of a species that induce behavioral or physiological responses. However, as Touhara points out, based on the research, it can be argued that "there are similar compounds that act as pheromones".