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.
“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
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.