Sometimes dating really stinks, particularly when there's no chemistry between you and your mate. But it's possible that you're turning each other off because of the way you each smell. Humans give off pheromones, or chemicals, that are intended to attract members of the opposite sex. Scientists speculate that now the influence of many pheromones may not be as strong due to humans' urges to be clean and free of body odor. Also, the tiny organ that detects pheromones is less effective in adult humans. But they're still there, and they are the reason why women who live in proximity to one another begin to fall into the same menstrual cycle. In the animal kingdom, pheromones direct male marine animals to fertilize eggs, and bees use them to attract other workers to the hive. And while they do serve a purpose in some human functions, they're not as influential regarding sex as purported. There is no proof that spraying on a chemical will attract a mate any more so than going au naturel, so don't waste your money on snake oil, expecting yourself to become a mate magnet.
But it's obvious that the way a person smells definitely can determine attraction, whether it's a natural smell or one mixed with a sexy fragrance. And smell can be a turn-on for a lot of people - body odor is definitely an established fetish, and there are even so-called "pheromone parties" based on B.O. In New York and other large cities, these mixers feature non-artificially scented people bringing t-shirts that they've slept in for three days, then putting them into a numbered plastic bag. They sniff, choose their favorite funk and have their picture taken with the numbered bag, which is then put up on a large screen. The owner of said funk can choose whether or not to approach the person who likes their smell. Does it work? Who nose?
