We tend to like the smell of our friends, and potential friends

The Star

26-04-2025

Just like animals, humans too tend to sniff out who they are likely to befriend, albeit without being aware of it. — AFP
It is often believed that friendship is sparked with a good ­feeling, an exchange of glances, or a few well-chosen words.
But behind these first impressions lies a more complex genuine chemistry.
An American study published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports reveals that our sense of smell could be the real driver of our affinity for one person over another.
Cornell University professor of psychology Dr Vivian Zayas and Tennessee State University assistant professor of psychology Dr Jessica Gaby conducted a study on a group of heterosexual women with a surprising purpose.
Their goal was to explore how our sense of smell influences our feelings of friendship.
The researchers devised an original experimental protocol for a 'speed-friending' event organised between the women.
Volunteers first wore a t-shirt for around 12 hours, during which they conducted their ­normal daily routine.
These garments were then presented to other participants, who were asked to sniff them and say whether the smell evoked a sensation that the wearer was trustworthy and sympathetic, without knowing anything about the individual.
At the same time, they were shown photos of faces for a very short time (just 0.1 ­seconds) and asked to say whether they thought they would get along with the person in the photo.
Finally, everyone took part in a series of four-minute face-to-face conversations, followed by a new evaluation.
And the results suggested that the nose does more than just smell scents: it picks up much more subtle signals.
When a participant liked the smell of a t-shirt, she was much more likely to feel a connection with its owner during conversation.
Even more surprising, just a quick glance at a face could reflect a pre-existing olfactory attraction.
This magic lies in what researchers call 'diplomatic odour', a personal signature resulting from a combination of everyday factors.
'It's not just about perfume. It's your dietary choices. Are you a cat person or a dog person? What laundry detergent do you use?
'All these judgements come together,' explains Asst Prof Gaby in a press release.
But that's not all.
The nose appears to have impressive predictive ability.
The study shows a strong ­correlation between the ­participants' initial olfactory preferences, their impressions after face-to-face exchanges, and their final stated affinities.
'All participants in the study had a consistent olfactory ­profile in terms of their preferences.
'But this consistency did not mean that some smelled good and others smelled bad.
'No, the preferences were very personal.
'For example, you could ­prefer the smell of person A to that of B, then to that of C, ­without it being a question of 'good' or 'bad' smell,' says Prof Zayas.
'Everybody showed they had a consistent signature of what they liked.
'And the consistency was not that in the group one person smelled really bad and one ­person smelled really good.
'No, it was idiosyncratic.
'I might like person A over B over C based on scent, and this pattern predicts who I end up liking in the chat,' she adds.
Even more fascinating, our olfactory judgments are not fixed.
A pleasant interaction can transform an unappealing smell into a pleasant scent.
In short, if the chemistry is right, the nose follows.
The findings of this study broaden our understanding of the subtle mechanisms of human encounters.
Our sense of smell, often ­relegated to the background, may play a key role in the ­formation of friendships.
So, the next time you instinctively feel comfortable with a stranger, listen to your nose: it may be guiding you toward a beautiful friendship. – AFP Relaxnews