PNIPU researchers link scent and pheromones to partner choice
Researchers at Perm National Research Politteknik University report that human body odors and pheromones influence how people relate and whom they choose as partners. The university’s press service summarized the findings, noting the social and biological implications for dating and long‑term relationships across cultures.
An individual odor arises from genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a region that codes immune-defense molecules. These genes shape secretions that create distinctive odor patterns detectable by the nose and interpreted by the brain without conscious effort. The signals are subtle, yet they can be picked up by others and influence perception below the level of awareness.
The work carries an evolutionary angle: selecting a partner with different MHC genes can contribute to offspring with broader immune diversity, potentially boosting disease resistance for future generations. The idea is that richer genetic variety in immune defense can help a family cope with a wider range of pathogens over time, aligning biology with the needs of a changing environment.
For instance, women may subconsciously detect men with dissimilar MHC gene sets. Across studies, scents produced by men carrying different MHC variants have been found more attractive to women than odors from men with similar gene profiles. The effects tend to be modest and can be influenced by other factors, yet the pattern has appeared consistently in multiple investigations.
In addition, body odor may signal psychological and behavioral traits in a man. Scent cues can help women differentiate partners oriented toward family-building from those more focused on career or social status, shaping initial attraction and ongoing judgments during dating. These signals operate in the background, contributing to impressions that influence choices without overt or deliberate analysis.
Pheromones form a separate and important layer. In men, pheromones such as androstenol and androstenone can influence perceptions of mood, warmth, and charm in a potential partner, while ovulation may shift these signals in couples. This chemical dialogue adds another dimension to how people respond to one another in social and romantic situations.
Pheromonal signals engage core brain regions involved in emotion, motivation, and social interaction. The hypothalamus, the amygdala, and portions of the prefrontal cortex respond to these chemical cues, shaping how people feel and how they respond to others. For example, the hypothalamus helps regulate arousal and approach tendencies, while the amygdala processes emotional significance and trust signals, illustrating why scent and pheromones can feel meaningful in social encounters.
Many scientists emphasize that the effects are not universal. Individual differences, cultural context, and environmental factors all shape how scent cues influence attraction. In North American and European populations, researchers continue to explore the balance between biology and personal experience in partner choice, noting that biology is only part of a complex, dynamic process.
Earlier research has explored how close contact, including hugs, can influence health and social bonding, underscoring that touch and scent together contribute to human connection. The synergy between physical contact and olfactory cues appears to strengthen bonds and foster a sense of closeness that can endure beyond a single encounter.