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Article

Manipulation of body odour alters men's self-confidence and judgements of their visual attractiveness by women

Details

Citation

Roberts SC, Little A, Lyndon A, Roberts J, Havlicek J & Wright RL (2009) Manipulation of body odour alters men's self-confidence and judgements of their visual attractiveness by women. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 31 (1), pp. 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2008.00477.x

Abstract
Human body odour is important in modulating self-perception and interactions between individuals. Arti?cial fragrances have been used for thousands of years to manipulate personal odour, but the nature and extent of in?uences on person perception are relatively unexplored. Here we test the effects of a double-blind manipulation of personal odour on self-con?dence and behaviour. We gave to male participants either an aerosol spray containing a formulation of fragrance and antimicrobial agents or an otherwise identical spray that lacked these active ingredients. Over several days,we found effects between treatment groups on psychometric self-con?dence and self-perceived attractiveness. Furthermore, although there was no difference between groups in mean attractiveness ratings of men's photographs by a female panel, the same women judged men using the active spray as more attractive in video-clips, suggesting a behavioural difference between the groups. Attractiveness of an individual male's non-verbal behaviour, independent of structural facial features, was predicted by the men's self-reported proclivity towards the provided deodorant. Our results demonstrate the pervasive in?uence of personal odour on self-perception, and how this can extend to impressions on others even when these impressions are formed in the absence of odour cues.

Keywords
deodorant; evolutionary psychology; olfaction; perception; smell

Journal
International Journal of Cosmetic Science: Volume 31, Issue 1

StatusPublished
Publication date28/02/2009
Date accepted by journal15/08/2008
URL
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
ISSN0142-5463
eISSN1468-2494

People (1)

Professor Craig Roberts

Professor Craig Roberts

Professor of Social Psychology, Psychology