Dawne and I have always found each other’s smell alluring, and we’re not alone in finding our mates scent to be a turn on. Napoleon Bonaparte is reputed to have once sent his beloved Josephine a missive in which he said, “…will be home in a week. Do not bathe…”

A recent UK study has shown that when it comes to choosing a good mate, smell may play a huge determining factor in the decision. Moreover, women who are on the pill may choose badly, in that they are predisposed to choosing men who are too genetically similar to themselves, reducing the chances of healthy offspring. Couples who are genetically diverse tend to produce children with stronger immune systems, making them more resistant to disease and infection.

From an article at CBS News entitled: Pill Users Choose ‘Wrong’ Sex Partners:

In laboratory studies, women who sniff men’s sweaty T-shirts find them more attractive when they come from men whose MHC genes don’t match theirs. It’s not that certain MHC genes smell better to women — it’s the difference that counts.

and,

MHC genes affect important immune responses. By mating with males who have different MHC genes, females give their offspring a better disease-fighting repertoire.

All I know is that a) I really like the way Dawne smells, sans perfumes and b) we had 4 strong, healthy and beautiful children together. Need I say more?

Read the full story here: Pill Users Choose ‘Wrong’ Sex Partners

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