Humans often make snap judgments about others based on a multitude of factors, including physical appearance and the ever-influential sense of smell.
A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports reveals that heterosexual women, meeting for the first time, rely on scent to assess potential friendship within just minutes—almost immediately upon encountering the odor of another person.
Delving into the intersection of olfactory cues and social interaction, researchers have traced the foundations of social olfactory research back to evolutionary psychology, particularly the pioneering work of Swiss biologist Claus Wedekind from 1995.
In various species, subtle pheromonal signals play a critical role in attraction, and previous findings hinted at human odor preferences tied to genetic compatibility.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, vital for immune system functions, were shown to influence mate selection, as individuals typically favor partners with different MHC genes, which may serve to maintain genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding.
Wedekind’s
image source from：https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/04/smells-like-teen-friendship-how-scent-influences-social-choices/
