Preference for human body odors is influenced by gender and sexual orientation.
Human body odor may contribute to selection of partners. If so, sexual orientation may influence preference for and perhaps production of human body odors. In a test of these hypotheses, heterosexual and homosexual males and females made two-alternative forced-choice preference judgments for body odors obtained from other heterosexual and homosexual males and females. Subjects chose between odors from (a) heterosexual males and gay males, (b) heterosexual males and heterosexual females, (c) heterosexual females and lesbians, and (d) gay males and lesbians. Results indicate that differences in body odor are detected and responded to on the basis of, in part, an individual's gender and sexual orientation. Possible mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.
Martins
Yolanda
Y
Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. yolanda.martins@flinders.edu.au
Preti
George
G
Crabtree
Christina R
CR
Runyan
Tamar
T
Vainius
Aldona A
AA
Wysocki
Charles J
CJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D010675:Pheromones; D012725:Sexual Behavior
D010675:Pheromones