The Link Between Your Look and Your Scent
An unpleasant aspect of being overweight is that people KNOW you’re overweight. But a new study by Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation could make you feel better about those extra pounds.
Dr. Hirsch applied three different scents to a woman weighing 245 pounds. After each application, he asked men to guess her weight. Two of the scents – citrus floral and sweet pea & lily of the valley – made no difference in the men’s perception of how much she weighed.
But the third scent – floral & spice – did.
On average, they guessed her weight to be 4.1 pounds lighter than she was. A bigger surprise? The men who really liked the floral & spice scent perceived the woman to be 12 pounds lighter than she actually weighed.
Sure, being perceived as lighter than you are might boost your self-esteem. But wouldn’t it be better to lose the weight? ETR is full of recommendations for how to drop pounds – and keep them off – just by making a few simple changes to your diet and exercise regimen. And once you’re truly thinner, your self-esteem will improve… and so will your health.
(Source: Smellandtaste.org)
