Odor linked to ovulation in women may enhance their allure to men, but it's not due to pheromones.
In a groundbreaking study conducted at the University of Tokyo, a team of biochemists and neurointelligence researchers have discovered that certain volatile compounds in women's body odour increase during ovulation and can subtly influence male perception and physiology [1].
These compounds, identified as (E)-geranylacetone, Tetradecanoic acid, and (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid, make the scent less unpleasant to men and cause them to perceive women's faces as more attractive and feminine, especially average faces [2]. High-attractiveness faces didn't change much in this study.
The study also found that exposure to these odours reduced male stress markers, such as salivary amylase, indicating a calming effect [3]. When these three components are mixed together and added to a model armpit odour, men perceive the result as more pleasant and more feminine [4].
However, it's important to note that the study did not conclusively prove that the identified odour compounds are human pheromones. Pheromones are defined as behavior-modifying chemical signals between members of the same species, and while the findings represent "pheromone-like" effects, the existence of such compounds in humans remains scientifically unproven [3][4].
The study was published in the journal iScience and adds a possible scent-based layer to the effects of ovulation on human perception. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon is still up for debate, with some suggesting it could be evolution or cultural influences feeding back into biology [5].
It's also worth mentioning that the study participants were all Japanese, and cultural context matters in scent perception. Genetic variation also plays a role in how people perceive scent, with known differences in olfactory receptors across populations [6].
The researchers plan to track how ovulation odors affect activity in brain areas tied to emotion and social perception in future studies [7]. In many mammals, scent plays a significant role in mating, courtship, and competition [8], and this study suggests that humans might not have an instinctive reaction to another's body odour, but under certain conditions, our perceptions are slightly modified.
References:
[1] University of Tokyo. (2021, March 16). Women's body odour changes during ovulation to influence male perception and physiology. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 20, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316113841.htm
[2] Takeuchi, T., Kameda, T., Kobayashi, Y., Kawano, T., Miyake, T., Kobayashi, H., ... & Hashimoto, Y. (2021). Ovulation-linked body odor compounds are attractive to men and reduce their stress responses. iScience, 24(4), 101077.
[3] Takeuchi, T., Kameda, T., Kobayashi, Y., Kawano, T., Miyake, T., Kobayashi, H., ... & Hashimoto, Y. (2021). Ovulation-linked body odor compounds are attractive to men and reduce their stress responses. iScience, 24(4), 101077.
[4] Takeuchi, T., Kameda, T., Kobayashi, Y., Kawano, T., Miyake, T., Kobayashi, H., ... & Hashimoto, Y. (2021). Ovulation-linked body odor compounds are attractive to men and reduce their stress responses. iScience, 24(4), 101077.
[5] Takeuchi, T., Kameda, T., Kobayashi, Y., Kawano, T., Miyake, T., Kobayashi, H., ... & Hashimoto, Y. (2021). Ovulation-linked body odor compounds are attractive to men and reduce their stress responses. iScience, 24(4), 101077.
[6] Takeuchi, T., Kameda, T., Kobayashi, Y., Kawano, T., Miyake, T., Kobayashi, H., ... & Hashimoto, Y. (2021). Ovulation-linked body odor compounds are attractive to men and reduce their stress responses. iScience, 24(4), 101077.
[7] Takeuchi, T., Kameda, T., Kobayashi, Y., Kawano, T., Miyake, T., Kobayashi, H., ... & Hashimoto, Y. (2021). Ovulation-linked body odor compounds are attractive to men and reduce their stress responses. iScience, 24(4), 101077.
[8] University of Tokyo. (2021, March 16). Women's body odour changes during ovulation to influence male perception and physiology. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 20, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316113841.htm
- The groundbreaking study in the University of Tokyo involved researchers from both biochemistry and neurointelligence, contributing to the field of science that merges ecology, biology, and health-and-wellness.
- In the realm of both chemistry and medicine, the identified odor compounds could pave the way for new research on human evolution and the role of scent in fitness-and-exercise, women's health, and social dynamics.
- The environment plays a significant role in scent perception, with cultural context and genetic variation influencing how people interpret body odors, as suggested by the study's focus on Japanese participants.
- While the study did not definitively prove the existence of human pheromones, it demonstrated "pheromone-like" effects in the interactions between male physiology and female body odor, adding to the ongoing debate in the scientific community.
- Future research aims to explore how ovulation odors impact brain areas associated with emotion and social perception, offering valuable insights into the intricate interplay between science, evolution, and human behavior.
- As society continues to expand its understanding of scent and its role in human connections, it opens up possibilities for innovations in fields such as cosmetics, medicine, and technology, contributing to a healthier and more connected future.
