11 Unexpected Facts About Attraction

Your signature scent— whether it's Chanel, Shalimar or patchouli—becomes you. Literally. Fragrances may amplify and advertise your unique genetic makeup to potential partners, finds a study from the Max Planck Institute in Germany. People who share the same variants of immune system (MHC) genes often preferred the same scents (rose oil, musk or vanilla, for instance). This suggests that particular scents work best with particular body chemistries—and that we know intuitively what fragrances smell best on us. Indeed, a recent Czech study found that when volunteers' sweat was mixed with their preferred perfume (versus a random one), impartial noses gave the resulting mélange much higher ratings.