For women, nothing's like the smell of men's sweat

Oswizle · 02-08-2007, 12:50 PM

By Will Dunham Thu Feb 8, 9:42 AM ET

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters Life!) - For women, apparently there's nothing like the smell of a man's sweat.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley said women who sniffed a chemical found in male sweat experienced elevated levels of an important hormone, along with higher sexual arousal, faster heart rate and other effects.

They said the study, published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, represents the first direct evidence that people secrete a scent that influences the hormones of the opposite sex.

The study focused on androstadienone, considered a male chemical signal. Previous research had established that a whiff of it affected women's mood, sexual and physiological arousal and brain activation. Its impact on hormones was less clear.

A derivative of testosterone, it is found in male sweat as well as in saliva and semen. It smells somewhat musky.

"It really tells us that a lot of things can be triggered by smelling sweat," Claire Wyart, who led the study, said in an interview on Wednesday.

The researchers measured levels of the hormone cortisol in the saliva of 48 female undergraduates at Berkeley, average age of about 21, after the women took 20 sniffs from a jar of androstadienone. Cortisol is secreted by the body to help maintain proper arousal and sense of well-being, respond to stress and other functions.

Cortisol levels in the women who smelled androstadienone shot up within roughly 15 minutes and stayed elevated for up to an hour. Consistent with previous research, the women also reported improved mood, higher sexual arousal, and had increased blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.

YEAST

For comparison's sake, women also smelled baking yeast, which did not trigger the same effects.

This was the first time that smelling a specific chemical secreted by people was shown to affect hormonal levels, the researchers said. The women had no skin contact with androstadienone.

The researchers used only heterosexual women in the study out of concern that homosexual women may respond differently to this male chemical.

Wyart said while this marked the first time a specific component of male sweat was demonstrated to influence women's hormones, other components of sweat may do similar things.

The study did not determine whether the increase in cortisol levels triggered mood or arousal changes or whether those changes themselves caused the cortisol elevation.

The researchers also said their findings suggest a better way to stimulate cortisol levels in patients who need it, such as those with Addison's disease. Instead of giving cortisol in pill form, which has side effects such as peptic ulcers, osteoporosis, weight gain and mood disorders, smelling a chemical like androstadienone could be used to affect cortisol levels, they suggested.

klugman · 02-13-2007, 01:49 PM

I don't see how the researchers can claim this is "new" findings. I remember clowning around with a girlfriend back in high school after football practice telling her how my sweaty pads increased her attraction...and this was in 1988.

**CRUNCH** · 02-24-2007, 10:51 AM

I used to play rugby in college. After games we'd all hit the local bars and party with the other team. I was always stunned at the number of women hitting on us when we were so dirty and sweaty. I would get way more action then, as opposed to being all showered up and clean. Amazing!

And to add to this. My wife absolutely loves smelling my armpits. She'll bury her nose right into them! Weirdest thing, but it turns her on so it works for me!!

**smeton_yea** · 02-25-2007, 01:05 AM

This is the best PHER there is. Just dance on the dance floor, just sweating get near her, dance with her and tell her to lick your sweat=) Nice!

DazzlinJack · 02-25-2007, 04:52 PM

does our sweat still affect womens mood if there was also the smell of cologne too? will the effect will be blunted if another smell covered it up?

**smeton_yea** · 02-25-2007, 10:54 PM

Bump. anyone have the RESearch on this?

dannyboy9 · 02-27-2007, 07:42 AM

How old is this study?

Mega NRG Man · 02-27-2007, 01:21 PM

So not taking a bath = getting some? Cool,

dannyboy9 · 02-27-2007, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mega NRG Man

So not taking a bath = getting some? Cool,

No, no, no....

Not taking a bath = bad hygiene

Sweating after a nice workout = getting some

Mega NRG Man · 03-01-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyboy9

No, no, no....

Not taking a bath = bad hygiene

Sweating after a nice workout = getting some

Roger wilco!

babolat · 03-05-2007, 02:14 AM

Didnt this come out like 5 years ago?

Still cool

dannyboy9 · 03-05-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babolat

Didnt this come out like 5 years ago?

Still cool

yeah, I don't know but that's what I was trying to find out...

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyboy9

How old is this study?

Did it really come out 5 years ago?

babolat · 03-05-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyboy9

yeah, I don't know but that's what I was trying to find out...

Did it really come out 5 years ago?

I dont know but Ive been quoting it for years now! Its definitely not new, but maybe its just now more mainstream.

**Mass_69** · 03-05-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babolat

I dont know but Ive been quoting it for years now! Its definitely not new, but maybe its just now more mainstream.

Yeah, it's not new, but interesting none the less. I was tought this in a class back around 1996 or 1997. The teacher just thought I wanted to participate a lot because I was always raising my hand (I sat next to some hot girls in that class

).

**smeton_yea** · 03-16-2007, 07:36 AM

This is a nice aspect to pick up babes at the gym after a trainign session. Just make sure If you plan to do this, brign your postraining shake. After your done just just flirting with her, hang in there, and ask for her number or a date...

dannyboy9 · 03-18-2007, 01:31 PM

I don't think study relates with all guys though...I've passed by some fellas at the gym that smell like straight up donkey caca + Death. It's okay to smell like sweat, just not that nasty-put some deodorant on you nasty pig smelling-egg pudding smell

Mega NRG Man · 03-18-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyboy9

I don't think study relates with all guys though...I've passed by some fellas at the gym that smell like straight up donkey caca + Death. It's okay to smell like sweat, just not that nasty-put some deodorant on you nasty pig smelling-egg pudding smell

That's what I'm thinking here. I have been unfortunate to run into men at my gym who can incapacitate people by raising their arms in their general space, because they smell like bloody Death warmed Over mixed with the Damnation of All Humanity and the Blood of an Exhumed Corpse, and when they're doing Bench Presses or any workout that requires one to raise one's arms, they emanate this foul mixture of stench like a horrifying factory of EVIL. I usually consider EXORCISING in the goddamn place instead of EXERCISING, because that smell is as Unholy as the Anti-Christ.

So when CRUNCH talks about his wife smelling his pits, I want to puke at the sheer idea of someone inhaling that crap. That's like sticking your head right up Godzilla's ******* and taking a good long breath of air.