Armpit Odor Leads to Happiness? Sniffing Sweat from Happy Men Will Make Women Elated

A new study involving women smelling the sweat exuded by happy men is found to have made the former happier. The study reports that we can detect and respond happily to "chemosignals," which are chemical substances our bodies produce when we feel happy.

The study published in Psychological Science shows that the happiness sweat can lift the mood by sending happy vibes via the sense of smell, according to Time.

The report revealed that women who smelled the sweat produced by happy men are more elated than when they smell the sweat of men who are in a neutral mood.

The author of the study, Gün Semin, said that "being exposed to sweat produced under happiness induces a simulacrum of happiness in receivers, and induces a contagion of the emotional state." The Utrech University professor also added, "Somebody who is happy will infuse others in their vicinity with happiness."

Semin added via Medical News Today that, "This suggests that somebody who is happy will infuse others in their vicinity with happiness. In a way, happiness sweat is somewhat like smiling - it is infectious."

To conduct the sweat experiment, the researchers gathered a group of 12 men and attached pads in their armpit. The men were shown film clips that made them feel either happiness or fear. One group was held as the control group while the other team was made to watch videos that were neutral.

The researchers then collected the sweat samples after the film viewing and asked about 40 women to smell the scents.

After measuring the facial expressions of the women, the researchers found that women responded more positively with the 'happy sweat' than with the 'fear sweat.'

The women who smelled the 'fear sweat' made the women's medial frontalis (part of the brain responsible for fear) more active. While the 'happy sweat' made the women produce a Duchenne smile, a genuine smile and an indicator of enjoyment, according to Psychology Today.

"We observed that exposure to body odor collected from senders of chemosignals in a happy state induced a facial expression and perceptual-processing style indicative of happiness in the receivers of those signals. Our findings suggest that not only negative affect but also a positive state (happiness) can be transferred by means of odors," according to the researchers.

According to Shape.com, the researchers think that this is a subtle and primal way of communicating intention and emotion to others. However, further research is needed. Semin says that the industry on odors may benefit from their research. There might be implications, according to the researchers, because conveying emotions through smell can inspire either happiness or negative emotions.