They say scent is an important factor when it comes to first impressions.
And it has long been thought that women smell more ‘attractive’ to men at times when they are most likely to conceive a baby.
But the aroma of ‘femme fertile’ is a myth, according to a new study.
Researchers from Leipzig University recruited 91 men to rate the scents of 29 women aged between 20 and 30.
All the women were vegetarian or vegan, did not smoke and had not been on any hormonal contraception for the last six months.
It has long been thought that women smell more ‘attractive’ to men at times when they are most likely to conceive a baby. But the aroma of ‘femme fertile’ is a myth, according to a new study
Their smells were taken using cotton pads under the armpits at different stages of their menstrual cycle, and men were asked to score the smells based on attractiveness, pleasantness and intensity.
Previously, it was thought that men would rate the smell as more attractive if it was taken during peak ovulatory fertility — the day before ovulation and the day that ovulation takes place.
This is the time when a woman is most likely to get pregnant.
The study, however, revealed no link between attractiveness ratings and fertility.
Meanwhile further chemical analysis suggested there was no difference in the chemical makeup of the odour of fertile women.
Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team said: ‘Human mate choice decisions are informed by the quality of potential mates and, thereby, rely on judging aspects of their physical attractiveness.
‘Even subtle changes in a woman’s physical appearance have been suggested to provide information about her current fertile state, such as facial or vocal changes.
‘Similarly, subtle changes in body odour have been suggested to convey information about women’s fertility.’
They concluded: ‘Our results revealed no evidence that men’s attraction to women’s body odour is positively predicted by female fertility.
‘Furthermore, the chemical composition of a woman’s axillary odour was not affected by her current fertile state or fluctuating ovarian hormone levels.’
Previous research, carried out by experts at the University of Bern in Switzerland, suggested that ladies at the most fertile point of their menstrual cycle release reproductive hormones that boast a more alluring smell.
A total of 28 women donated their body odour, with the samples later rated from 0-100 by 57 men. Their hormone levels were determined using saliva samples.
Women with high oestrogen levels and low progesterone levels — an indicator of fertility — were consistently rated as having a better smell.
Meanwhile a separate study, published in 2016, suggested that females who are at their most fertile also become more attractive to other women — which is hard to explain from an evolutionary point of view.