Dating is tough, and people are eager for the tiniest advantage over the competition. Now a TikTok trend claims to have a top tip for men on how to drive women they meet crazy. Is it dressing well? Perhaps planning a nice activity she’ll enjoy? Maybe even just being genuinely interested in her life and thoughts?
Nope, it’s skipping showers and deodorant in the hope that a man’s natural unwashed odor is enough to sweep women off their feet. As reported by Fox News, this is known as “pheromone-maxxing” and works on the basis that the stinkier a guy is, the more sexually attractive he becomes.
As detailed by Vice, for the truly committed, “pheromone-maxxing” doesn’t stop at merely dodging a shower – the more committed proponents prepare for a hot date by doing their best to smell like a wild animal, which can include drinking their own urine to “sweat out toxins”.
“Assume you’re homeless”
There are a few wrinkles. As per Scientific American, “There is no evidence of a consistent and strong behavioral response to any human-produced chemical cue. To date, scientists have collected evidence for possible pheromone effects but have not definitively identified a single human pheromone.”
Another, somewhat more serious, problem is that women encountering this trend appear to be largely repulsed by the red flag of a date showing up unwashed and reeking. Responding to a post on X, one replied, “Ewwwww…..who wants to have sex with someone doesn’t bathe”, another said that if someone turned up for a date smelling bad they’ll “assume you’re homeless” and another concluded: “My ideal man? Lazy AND smelly”, said no woman ever.”
But there’s good news if you’re trapped in a dating nightmare and not having any success. A 2017 study titled “It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Question-Asking Increases Liking” concluded that if you want to make a woman like you, just shut up about yourself and focus on them. Ask them lots of questions about themselves, be genuinely interested in their answers, and then ask them lots of follow-up questions.
This tactic isn’t guaranteed to seduce a woman on the spot, but the study showed it increased chances of getting a second date and that the women being asked questions found the man more appealing as he was displaying listening skills, understanding, and validating them. Or I guess you could try turning up smelling like you’ve been scraped off the bottom of an abandoned gym bag and see how that works out.
Published: Aug 31, 2026 08:12 am