Responsivity to two odorants, androstenone and amyl acetate, and the affective impact of odors on interpersonal relationships.
Substantial variation exists in the importance of olfaction in influencing individuals' preferences, yet the sources of this variation remain elusive. The authors explored responsivity to 2 odorants as 1 potential source. Participants (N = 258) completed the Affective Impact of Odor Scale and were assessed for responsivity to the putative human pheromone androstenone and amyl acetate. Results showed a significant relationship between odorant responsivity and self-reports of the influence of odors. People able to smell androstenone more commonly reported odors as having a negative effect on interpersonal relationships than did people anosmic to androstenone, whereas responsivity to amyl acetate was associated with positive effects of odors on relationships. Responsivity to certain odorants may be an important factor affecting human social interactions.
School of Science and Health, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. PierceJ@PhilaU.edu
John D
JD
Pierce
Adam B
AB
Cohen
Patricia M
PM
Ulrich
D000339:Affect; D000738:Androsterone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D000439:Pentanols; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012903:Smell; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000439:Pentanols; C005716:amyl acetate; D000738:Androsterone