Could it be that the “sexually-liberating” hormonal birth control pill, the charming perfume that we wear on every date to establish a signature scent, and the clean-smelling scents we infuse in our homes to add a final layer of polish are actually simultaneously trashing the modern woman’s ability to have healthy romantic relationships?

With divorce rates up, dating app mayhem on the rise, and an ever increasing toxic environment, one might wonder whether the mass adoption of chemical use has affected our relationships on a much deeper level.

Or maybe you’ve never wondered that because who really does… besides me? Ha.

Let’s see what the science has to say.

The Pill Screws Your Pheromones

Did you know that hormonal contraceptives can actually alter how you perceive the attractiveness of a potential mate?

One study found that women on hormonal birth control could not differentiate the attractiveness of different men’s musk — whether a stranger or their own partner! However, the women who were hormone-free had significant differences in perceived attractiveness among the men [1].

This is super important because on a basic human level, we are instinctively attracted to a mate based on subconscious factors or invisible biological markers like pheromones. Our DNA has deemed what smell a good partner has.

Hormonal birth control masks our ability to sniff out Mr. Right. Meaning, you could date a lot of Mr. Wrong’s over and over without ever realizing why you’re always attracted to that type of guy.

Hormonal birth control masks our ability to sniff out Mr. Right. Meaning, you could date a lot of Mr. Wrong’s over and over without ever realizing why you’re always attracted to that type of guy.

What your doctor didn’t know and your girlfriends couldn’t tell you: the pill screws your pheromones (and your dating life)!

Fragrance Fake Out

We interact with the world through our five senses, one of which is smell. Smell is unique, and arguably the most amatory, in that it bonds our memory to emotions in a way other senses don’t. This superpower is also largely responsible for sex appeal, especially for women.

Men are more visually stimulated to determine attractiveness in a partner. But women are actually more driven by scent to determine attraction. Women can be highly influenced by perfumes to create a bond to a man wearing the attractive scent [2].

Basically, how you smell is maybe the most important thing you can do subconsciously establish attraction with the opposite sex. If your smell isn’t right, you’ll bond yourself to Mr. Wrong.

Basically, how you smell is maybe the most important thing you can do subconsciously establish attraction with the opposite sex. If your smell isn’t right, you’ll bond yourself to Mr. Wrong.

While fragrances found in perfumes, soaps, and other personal care products are extremely toxic anyway, they can also mask our natural pheromones to prevent a suitable mate from sniffing you out.

Get Your Dating Life On Track

If you want to get your dating life back on track and make sure the partner you pick is the best fit for you, ditching the chemicals is #1 priority.

Getting off hormonal birth control isn’t always easy (although I highly recommend it to anyone), and it takes a bit of planning to support your body back into a healthy state. But you might want to consider being off the pill at least a couple years before saying “I do” to your man. He may end up being an “I definitely don’t.”

If you’re new to non-hormonal birth control options, check out this article about fertility awareness method.

The other thing you can do ASAP is dump the chemical-laden products in your home. We’re talking everything from perfumes to shampoo to candles. Detergents, deodorants, and air fresheners all have to go. Anything with “fragrance” in the ingredients belongs in the trash immediately — for the sake of your personal health and your dating life!

And no, this is not a case of moderation or “just a little bit”. Any exposure to these toxic fragrance products can have long-term damage on your health with an extended delay onset. Sometimes it takes years, even, before you experience the negative consequences of fragrance exposure.

When the fragrance-y fog lifts and you start to come back to your senses, you might realize that Mr. Right wasn’t really so hard to find all along.