Though certainly the scent of a man can be a powerful indicator of genetic compatibility, it certainly doesn’t dictate everything. If a woman falls in love with a man, and then begins the pill, she’s not likely to lose interest; love may be more powerful than the initial scent connection. And there are certainly other factors at play than just scent. Like most biological responses, mate preference and sexual attraction is much more complex than just how we smell. Because our scent communication acts at a subtle level, we have to get close enough even to detect it; that is, there needs to be a reasonable amount of physical or intellectual attraction in the first place. Although there is a new internet dating-site based on the MHC smell basis, scientificmatch.com, they still require users to fill out the normal things that most people base their compatibility on: age, hobbies, interests, income, etc.
Our noses may help us find the mate most suited to us, but it’s ultimately up to our minds to decide whether or not we like what we’ve sniffed out.
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