KUWAIT CITY, Nov 5: What you eat may influence more than just your health — it could also determine how attractive you smell. Nutrition and psychology experts say foods like garlic, vegetables, meat, alcohol, and even fasting can change body odour and, in turn, affect how appealing one’s natural scent is to others.

Each person has a unique scent profile, similar to a fingerprint, shaped by a complex mix of biological and lifestyle factors. “Odour is shaped by our genes, hormones, health, and hygiene,” said Professor Craig Roberts, a social psychologist at the University of Stirling in Scotland. “Whether we are male or female, young or old, gay or straight, dominant or subordinate, ovulating or pregnant, sick or well, happy or sad — our scent reflects all of it.”

While many of these factors are beyond control, one major influence on how we smell is what we eat. Research suggests that diet not only impacts body aroma but also alters how others perceive us — including attractiveness.

Breath and sweat

According to Lina Begdache, Assistant Professor of Health and Wellness Studies at the State University of New York at Binghamton, food affects body odour through two main biological routes — the gut and the skin.

In the gut, bacteria metabolise food, releasing volatile gases that can lead to bad breath, or halitosis. Around one-third of adults worldwide suffer from some form of halitosis, studies show.

Meanwhile, in the skin, chemical components of food travel through the bloodstream and are excreted via sweat. Sweat itself is odourless, but it interacts with skin bacteria to produce distinct scents. Foods containing sulphur — such as onions, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables — often create the strongest odours.

However, recent findings suggest that not all strong-smelling foods make us less appealing. Some may actually enhance attractiveness.

Fruits and vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are rich in sulphurous compounds, which can cause pungent odours when metabolised. Garlic and onions produce similar effects, as they release compounds such as diallyl disulphide and allyl methyl sulphide.

Yet surprisingly, garlic may make body scent more attractive. In a study led by Jan Havlíček, an expert in human ethology and chemical communication at Charles University in Prague, 42 men were divided into groups — some ate garlic, others did not. Women rated the sweat collected from these men on pleasantness, attractiveness, and intensity.

“The results were surprising,” Havlíček said. “Men who ate more garlic were rated as having a more attractive scent.” He speculates that garlic’s antioxidant and antimicrobial properties improve health, which may enhance scent appeal.

A 2017 Australian study found that men who ate more fruits and vegetables had sweeter, more floral body scents. Their skin, slightly yellow from carotenoids found in carrots, pumpkins, and papayas, was also perceived as more attractive. In contrast, carb-heavy diets produced the least pleasant odours.

Meat and fish

Animal protein can significantly alter body scent, as amino acids and fats are excreted through sweat. Foods such as fish and beans contain trimethylamine, a compound with a strong odour.

In rare cases, individuals develop trimethylaminuria — or “fish odour syndrome” — when the body cannot properly break down trimethylamine. A 2025 medical case described a 10-month-old boy who developed the condition after eating swordfish, though it was temporary and resolved with dietary management.

In another study, Havlíček’s team tested 30 men on meat and meat-free diets for two weeks. Women rated the scent of men on meat-free diets as “more pleasant and attractive.” Havlíček noted that frequent meat consumption is a modern habit, uncommon during early human evolution.

Alcohol and coffee

Alcohol can contribute to both bad breath and unpleasant body odour. When metabolised, it releases acetaldehyde, a volatile compound with a stale scent. A study found that people who drink alcohol daily are more likely to suffer from bad breath and have higher levels of odorous sulphur compounds.

Similarly, caffeine in coffee and tea can stimulate sweat glands, particularly in the armpits and groin, fostering bacterial growth and intensifying body odour. Caffeine has even been detected in sweat samples, though its direct impact on scent remains unclear.

Interestingly, a study once found that beer drinkers were more attractive — but only to mosquitoes.

Fasting and scent

In another experiment, Havlíček’s team studied how fasting affects scent. Women who fasted for 48 hours produced sweat rated as slightly more attractive than those who ate normally. However, a 2018 Swiss study found that fasting made participants’ breath smell worse.

According to Professor Roberts, odour plays a vital yet subtle role in social interaction. “We are mammals, and like all mammals, scent almost certainly influences how we connect with others,” he said.

Despite extensive research, scientists agree there is no single formula for a pleasant scent. “There are plenty of aromatic compounds whose effects we don’t yet understand,” Havlíček said. “But it’s highly probable that many of them influence how we smell — and how attractive we seem.”