The nose is important in our choice of partner.
Research shows that we smell of people who supplement our own immune system, which can be seen as nature's way of ensuring that any future children get a good mix of defense mechanisms.
According to a German study, women are generally better at sniffing out a genetically good partner.
- The genetic factor is unimportant for men.
Men like the smell of their partner, the smell they are used to.
The longer they are together, the more he likes the smell, says psychology professor Ilona Croy in the documentary "Why do we fall in love?".
In the study, couples smelled of t-shirts, one of which had been worn by their partner and the others had been worn by strangers with different types of genetic makeup.
Birth control pills change the sense of smell
The study also showed that women who take birth control pills do not have the same odor sensitivity as women who do not take them.
- Women who take birth control pills behave more like men.
The genetic similarity becomes unimportant, says Ilona Croy.
Want to know more about what science says about the mechanisms behind love? Watch the documentary "Why do we fall in love?" on 14 February at 16.05 on SVT2 or already now on SVT Play.