Study: Women Know You're Attracted to Them by Scent

Scent does not make a woman want you by itself. It can make being close to you feel good, or it can make her step back.

Every person has a natural body scent. Sweat, skin oil, hair, clothes, food, soap, and laundry all add to it. A woman may not think, “I like his scent.” She may simply enjoy standing near you and want to stay there longer.

The reverse also happens. If your shirt smells sour, your breath smells bad, or your skin smells like old sweat, she notices. She may keep more space between you. She may turn her face away when you speak. She may end the talk sooner.

This does not mean you need to smell like a bottle of perfume. Strong scent can be just as bad as bad scent. A crowded bar already has smoke, food, sweat, and spilled drinks in the air. Ten sprays of cologne will not make you more attractive there.

Your goal is simple. Smell clean when she gets close.

Wash your body. Wear a clean shirt. Use deodorant. Brush your teeth and clean your tongue. If you smoke, know that the smell stays on your hands, hair, jacket, and breath. Mint gum can help your mouth, but it will not remove smoke from your clothes.

Scent matters most at close range. If you speak to a woman from across a room, she will not learn much from your skin or cologne. If you stand near her at a bar, sit beside her at a table, or lean in so she can hear you, she gets more information.

That is why basic hygiene matters before you approach women. You may start with a good line, then lose her when she gets close enough to smell your breath.

Keep your face clean. Check your shirt before you leave home. Smell your jacket and shoes. If you cannot tell whether your clothes smell fresh, ask someone you trust. Your own nose gets used to your scent.

A guy I coached once had good talks with women at a coffee shop, but they often left after a few minutes. He blamed his voice and his opening lines. Then he noticed that his coat smelled like fried food from the kitchen at home. He cleaned the coat and wore a fresh shirt. Women stayed close more often after that.

The change was not magic. The bad smell had been taking attention away from the talk.

Cologne should sit close to your skin. A woman should notice it when she stands near you, not from the other side of the room.

Start with one spray on your neck or chest. Give it time before adding more. Some scents smell mild after a few minutes but become strong after they warm on your skin. Ask a friend to smell your shirt after you have worn the cologne for an hour. If the scent fills the room, use less.

Do not spray cologne over sweat. Do not use it to cover dirty clothes. Wash first. Then put on clean clothes and use a small amount.

Choose a scent that fits the place. A light scent works well in a small room, office, cafe, or car. A darker scent may fit a night out, but it still should not fill the room.

Your cologne also needs to match your habits. If you work around food, smoke, dust, or strong cleaning products, keep your clothes and hair clean before you add any scent. A clean man with no cologne will usually smell better than a dirty man wearing expensive cologne.

Do not stare at her face and search for proof that your scent worked. Watch what she does during the talk.

If she stays near you, turns her body toward you, and keeps talking, she is likely comfortable. If she touches her nose, steps back, turns her head away, or keeps her face far from yours, check your breath and clothing. These signs can have other causes, so do not accuse her or ask, “Do I smell bad?”

If you need to check, step into the bathroom and handle it. Brush your teeth if you can. Wash your hands and face. Use a breath mint. If your shirt smells bad, buy a clean one or go home and change.

Also notice her scent without making the moment strange. If she wears a light perfume and you stand close, you may notice it. You can say, “You smell good.” Then keep talking. Do not bury your face near her neck or ask her to let you smell her. That crosses into her space.

The best response to a pleasant scent is calm interest. Stay close enough to talk, keep your hands to yourself, and let her choose whether she wants more closeness.

A good scent cannot save poor behavior. If you stare at her chest, talk over her, or stand too close, clean clothes will not fix the problem. She cares about how your presence feels in the whole moment.

Stand at a normal distance. Speak clearly. Look at her eyes, then look away in a relaxed way. Ask questions that fit what she just said. If she gives short answers and keeps looking around, end the talk and move on.

When she likes talking with you, scent can add to the moment because she notices it during close contact. She may catch it when you hug hello, sit beside you, or lean in to hear a quiet word.

Think of scent as part of your basic care, not a trick. Clean skin, fresh clothes, good breath, and a small amount of cologne are enough. Then your words and actions get to do their job.