Scientifically Proven Side Effects A Man Gets When Using Cologne

Modern men and women are a far cry from their nomadic, primitive ancestors, who relied heavily on their senses in order to survive. No longer do we smell fresh blood from the lion attack down the block, or pick up the scent of fresh water from miles away. We just lock our doors, turn on the faucet and live the good life. But we haven't totally lost our primal nature. Deep down, we are still creatures of instinct, and in moments of passion, greed, lust or anger, our monkey-brained nature emerges.

Nowhere is this quite as evident as in the realm of smell. According to Psychology Today, the nose's olfactory bulb is directly connected to parts of the brain controlling emotion and memory, making it capable of triggering powerful responses within us, whether we understand them or not. The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that scents can directly or indirectly affect our psychological and physiological states, and even alter brain waves. In the modern age, we try to take advantage of this fact by wearing cologne.

And if there's one thing we know about colognes, it's that "sixty percent of the time, they work every time." The other forty percent? Well, that's totally up to the wearer. After all, you can put lipstick on a hippopotamus and bathe it in rosewater, treat it to a sauna and pluck its nose hairs for good measure, but it's still going to have to put in the work to seduce the hippo of its dreams.

Colognes aren't magical in themselves, but under the right circumstances, a person can use them to magical effect. Here are the scientifically proven side effects a man gets when using cologne.

Good news for those hoping to do nothing and still turn a woman on — there is a scientifically proven compound in certain colognes which activates "an area of the brain responsible for the release of sex hormones in women," according to the Telegraph. The culprit is "hedione," which was "first used in Christian Dior's iconic men's fragrance Eau Sauvage," but also found in more recent favorite fragrances like CK One and Paco Rabanne's Invictus.

Methyl dihydrojasmonate, as hedione is also known, has been used for Eau Sauvage for over 50 years. According to GQ, Steve McQueen used it to great effect, but only recently has science caught up to the noses of perfumers, who consider the scent "one of the great miracles of modern perfumery." What makes this specific compound the Kanye of colognes?

"Smelling citrusy but floral at the same time, hedione is one of the 900 plus molecular components found in jasmine, and ... is often used in perfumery to connect the sparkling 'top' notes of a fragrance to the floral 'heart' notes that sit in the middle of a fragrance's construction in a way that doesn't jar."

So it smells divine and has a noticeable effect on women — score one point for hedione. But surely it's not the only compound out there doing the lord's work?

There's the ever popular sandalwood, which is thought to resemble andosterone, one of the more attractive pheromones found in male underarm sweat, or heliotropin, a key ingredient in vanilla that contributes to the "comforting, sedative effect" which causes feelings of relaxation among those who smell it. And, lest we beat around the bush, lavender is one of a handful of ingredients reported to stimulate blood flow to the penis, according to Healthline.

But at the end of the day, a scent is just a scent — it's the meaning that they have to us that truly makes them powerful. Every scent is subjectively interpreted by someone who smells it. Therefore, while there are certain ingredients that more people are likely to find attractive or pleasant, there is no objective truth in smell. One man's "trash" scent may be another's "patchouli."

If you're looking for a scent that's right for you, the most important factor is that it works for you, because you will always be more important than a scent you're wearing. As long as you feel comfortable wearing it and it doesn't burn your date's nostrils, that's all you need.

Humans naturally produce pheromones, so focusing more on you and less on the things you are wearing may ultimately be the best thing you can do. Add in the fact that many colognes contain volatile compounds which can be hazardous to your health, per The Guardian, and it's probably best to leave colognes to special occasions.