Body odor can be a real turn-off, but what determines if it’s pleasant or unpleasant? What evolutionary purpose does it serve?
Jasper de Groot, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Social, Health, and Organizational Psychology at Utrecht University, explores the vital link between smell and emotions.
“Scent acts as a guide: approach or avoid?” he explains. “Sweet, appealing smells signal something healthy and safe to eat, while foul odors warn of illness. Body odors add a layer of social communication.”
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“Scent can alert others to danger even after you’ve left the scene, lingering in the air,” de Groot notes. “It works in dark or noisy settings where vision and hearing fall short—smell gets the message across.”
Studies confirm we subconsciously detect fear scents, along with those of disgust and euphoria. Emotions aren’t just seen or felt—they’re smelled.
Read more about body odor? Dive into our full feature in the February issue of Santé.
Source: Santé February, text: Fleur Baxmeier
