Men Can Smell When Women Are Turned On, Says Science

If Seinfeldian standup comedy taught us anything, it’s that women are mysterious, inscrutable creatures whose wants and needs are impossible to comprehend (except, of course, for when they’re being clear, effective communicators who won’t stop nagging men to open up about their wants and needs). Women are from Venus! What are they thinking? How can you possibly know if one wants to have sex with you when she insists on keeping her genitals hidden inside her body like some kind of witch?

Well, good news, gentlemen. It turns out the ability to tell whether or not a woman is turned on has been inside you all along. All you have to do is follow your nose.

According to new research from the University of Kent, men can tell the difference between women who are turned on and women who aren’t in the mood based on scent, The Cut reported. Moreover, it turns out men are naturally more attracted to the smell of a woman who’s turned on, which seems both logical and convenient. Good job, biology.

In the study, Kent psychologist Dr. Arnaud Wisman collected samples of armpit sweat from 11 heterosexual women while they watched a snoozy documentary about bridges, and then again while they watched an erotic film. Wisman then had 24 heterosexual males evaluate the sweat samples and rate the intensity and attractiveness of each scent. Overall, the men were more attracted to the smell of the sweat samples collected when the women were watching an arousing film.

So, there you have it. If you smell a sweaty woman and think, “Ew, gross,” you’ll know she’s not turned on. But if you smell a woman’s sweat and you’re like, “Damn, sexy,” then apparently there’s a good chance she’s feeling it.

But remember, when it comes to determining whether or not a woman wants to have sex with you, a horny sniff test is not a substitute for consent. Just because you’ve discovered this secret superpower inside your olfactory senses does not mean you can go around hopping into bed with every woman you like the smell of. If you want to know if someone wants to have sex with you, ask them! I promise she’ll let you know in no uncertain terms.

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