Some Gen Z men are ‘pheromone-maxxing.’ What does that mean?

Skipping showers? Forgoing deodorant? Ditching hair wash day?

It might not seem like the most natural dating strategy, but some Gen Z men on TikTok are embracing their natural musk. They’re calling it “pheromone-maxxing.”

“Stopped washing my hair at all and now I unironically get more compliments on how it smells and looks (from women),” one user posted. "Pheromone maxxing is key.”

While science has shown scent can play a role in attraction, psychologists and dermatologists say there’s no evidence skipping showers is going to make you more desirable to potential partners.

“Pheromone-maxxing takes a kernel of legitimate science — the fact that humans produce individual chemical odors and that smell can influence how we perceive other people — and stretches it into a conclusion the science doesn’t support,” says Dr. Shereen Teymour, a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

The good news is, it seems the trend isn't exactly widespread. The term has roots in the looksmaxxing community, which has advocated for some extreme methods to achieve physical attractiveness. For example, some controversial creators in the community have advocated for "bonesmashing" − a debunked practice of deliberately breaking bones so they heal back stronger and more chiseled – using drugs…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/life/