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Pheromonemaxxing dating trend
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Men skip showers before dates in 'pheromone-maxxing' trend. The trend may backfire, making men smelly rather than sexy.
Background
Pheromone-maxxing is a viral TikTok trend among teen boys and young men who skip showers and deodorant before dates, hoping natural body odor will attract partners. Some even wear unwashed shirts or drink urine to 'sweat out toxins.' The trend has sparked debate about dating effort and hygiene.
How it unfolded
- recentlyPheromone-maxxing trend gains traction on TikTok, with young men skipping showers and deodorant before dates.
- Aug 26, 2026The Independent publishes an opinion piece criticizing the trend, arguing it makes men smelly, not sexy.
- Aug 29, 2026Fox News covers the trend, noting researchers have found body odors can influence others' responses.
Who’s saying what
- Proponents
- Some men believe natural body odor will make them more attractive to potential partners.
- Critics
- Critics argue the trend is unhygienic and counterproductive, making men smell bad rather than appealing.
Still unverified
Claims that drinking urine helps 'sweat out toxins' are not scientifically supported.