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At what moment can you genuinely say you're attracted to someone? Is it physical attraction, that spark during your first kiss? You may not know it, but your brain—or rather, your nose actually influences how you fall in love. Love actually can be smelled!

Researchers recently discovered an olfactory nerve in humans that they believe is the route through which pheromones are processed. Nerve “O,” as it is called, was first discovered in another mammal: the whale.

You might be asking, ‘What is the role of Nerve “O”?’

 

 

According to research, Nerve “O” has endings in the nasal cavity, but the fibers go directly to the sexual regions of the brain and bypass the olfactory cortex (this is the part of our brain that identifies odors). Hence, the role of Nerve “O” is not to consciously smell, but to smell and interpret sexual cues.

So what sexual cues do our scents give off? Research explains: We are more likely to be attracted to people whose scent is less chemically in common with our own. Family members often share similar chemicals, so our attraction to differing chemical makeup suggests that sexual cues evolved to protect close family members from procreating together. On the other hand, pregnant women have been shown to be more drawn to people with similar chemical makeup, which might be because during this crucial time, women are more apt to seek out family members than potential mates.

'An olfactory nerve can interpret sexual cues'

So how and where can you buy that scent that will keep you and your man together forever? Unfortunately, perfumes and colognes can’t fool Nerve “O”-the scents that humans and animals are attracted to are intangible and instinctive. So, when it comes to love, the nose knows best!

Shot on location at Avida Towers, New Manila.

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