How sniffing your man’s T-shirts could beat stress
WOMEN may protest about the smell of their partner’s dirty laundry – but a study suggests sniffing one of their sweaty T-shirts can help produce feelings of calm.
The whiff of a husband or boyfriend was found to be far more effective at reducing stress levels than traditional methods such as smelling pleasant fragraces like roses.
Researchers subjected a group of women to stress in the form of a series of mild electric shocks. They were asked to rate their feelings of stress, which were also measured using electrodes.
They were then given various items to sniff, including a T-shirt worn by their partner, one they had worn themselves and one that was freshly laundered.
The partner’s T-shirt produced the greatest calming effect.
However, the effect only worked in cases where women were happy in their relationships – for those who weren’t, stress levels actually increased.
The researchers at Stockholm University in Sweden said it suggested sniffing a partner should be promoted.
They also said a further experiment should be conducted to see if the smell of a good friend had the same effect.
They told the journal Physiology Behavior: ‘Our findings may have important practical implications.
‘Regular sniffing of one’s attachment figures could potentially promote health and counteract stress responses.’