Extensive research in Japan has led to an important discovery: where the natural “young woman” scent comes from.
Japanese scientists from Rohto Pharmaceutical have found that the smell, which reportedly makes women 74% more attractive, originates from two chemical compounds.
It was revealed that young women produce the substances in greater quantities than older ones, giving them a unique smell evocative of two fruity scents, according to Soranews24.
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The findings resulted from the company’s broader study on body odor which involved 500 women, ranging from teenagers to adults in their 50s, wearing the same clothing for 24 hours after taking a bath. In the name of science, the noble researchers blindfolded themselves and smelled the worn clothes.
After the blind test, the research team proclaimed that while the most dominant odor had a “slightly sour sweaty” scent, they noted that “We were surprised by a sweet aroma wafting up from [the younger women’s clothes].”
Upon further examination, they found that the “sweet aroma” came from the higher amounts of the acid compounds Lactone C10 and C11. Higher levels of the compounds, which give peach and coconut their same fragrances. were found in the clothing worn by women in their teens and 20s than those in later age groups. According to Rohto, there is a significant drop of the sweet smell in females at the age 35.
The scientists, who went on to evaluate a series of photographs of women, also linked Lactone C10 and C11 on the perceived attractiveness of the women.
An image of a woman was evaluated while the researcher was exposed to a mixed fragrance of Lactone C10 and C11. The exposure to the scent meant that the woman in the photo was 15% more likely to be judged as “feminine,” 47% more likely as “youthful,” and 74% more likely as “attractive” than the photo alone.
The company now plans to replicate that youthful scent in developing body soap and other grooming/wellness products incorporating Lactone C10 and C11 to be marketed at older women who want to regain their youthful scent.
