Study: Can Men Smell When Women Are More Fertile?

While some insist that a man can “smell” when a woman is more fertile, a recent study found that this might not be the case. German researchers asked men to sniff samples of women’s body odor before, after, and during ovulation. Men did not seem to rank more fertile bodily odors as more attractive. The women involved in the study were between 20 and 30 years old, and the men sniffing samples were between 19 and 40. Over ten years ago, a University of California study found that men were more attracted to women’s body odor when they were at their most fertile. This study appears to contradict that finding. “I see this as a starting point to re-evaluate the field,” Madita Zetzsche said. “We’re not overruling the previous studies, but we need to look at this again with the more robust techniques we have now.” (The Guardian)