The study found that women prefer to use perfumes containing an odorless substance that mimics the unique chemicals of the immune system that are released through the skin.
The immune systems of some people may be incompatible with each other, which leads to the birth of offspring with poor immune defense. By adding synthetic chemicals to perfumes, you can help people find the most compatible partners in terms of evolution.
The cells of all vertebrates, including humans, have unique proteins that help these cells recognize foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. These immune “fingerprints,” called major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs), play a role in partner selection, says study author Manfred Milinsky of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Germany.
Scientists have created synthetic versions of MHC molecules and added them to perfumes. 22 women, participants in the experiment, applied two different perfumes under the armpits for two evenings in a row. The smell of perfume was the same, but one variant contained MHC molecules, similar to those produced by the woman’s own immune system.
Women who did not smoke or catch a cold preferred to apply a mixture that smelled like their own immune system.
“This suggests that it’s not your free will to decide which fragrance to apply to yourself, it is dictated by your genes,” says Milinsky.
The results obtained by scientists can be used to create synthetic chemicals, the aroma of which, by imitating the chemicals of the immune system, will help attract potential partners.
In addition, these synthetic molecules can replace substances that often cause allergic reactions.
