Caution: Scientists Warn Against Using Vaginal Secretions as Perfume
TikTok has given us many wild trends, but vabbing could be at the top of the list.The viral trend claims that dabbing vaginal secretions on your pulse points makes you irresistible to the opposite sex, and influencers swear by it.
But before you reach for your secret scent – a practice that some call “disgusting” – let’s examine what real science has to say about it.
Spoiler alert: Scientists say it doesn’t make any sense.
Vabbing – a mix of vagina and dabbing – involves dabbing vaginal fluids on wrists, neck, and behind the ears, like perfume.
The idea is that these secretions contain pheromones, invisible chemical signals that are said to increase attractiveness.
The trend exploded when influencer Mandy Lee claimed in a viral TikTok that vabbing was the secret to getting more dates: “I swear if you vab, you will attract people, like a date or a one-night stand.”
She said: “Go ahead, give them a swipe. You don’t have to be fresh out of the shower, but relatively clean. Dab vab behind the ears, on the wrists, maybe a little on the neck.
“I don’t know what they put in pheromone perfume, but it can’t replicate your own scent and your own personal chemicals. Be careful – because it works.”
That video was viewed more than 1.5 million times before being removed by the platform, and suddenly vabbing was the internet’s latest obsession, with new clips emerging, praising the trend that some users say makes them more desirable.
“You won’t believe me,” says TikToker @jewlieah in a clip captioned ”First time vab in the gym.” “…it worked, the vabbing worked!”
Meanwhile, on X, a user with the name pick me writes: “I want everyone to know that vabbing works. No joke.”
But before you jump on the trend, let’s first see what real science says about pheromones and whether vabbing is just another case of TikTok wishful thinking.
Humans and Pheromones
The logic behind vabbing is simple: If animals use pheromones to attract mates, then humans must do the same?
Pheromones are well-documented in animals. Many species use them to mark territory, signal danger, or attract mates. For example, a female moth can release pheromones that attract males from miles away.
But humans are not so lucky.
According to a study on “body odors” and sexual attraction, “pheromones play a significant role in how animals communicate with each other,” but “research is divided on whether pheromones play a significant role in sexual and romantic compatibility for humans.”
In a discussion with Cosmopolitan, sex expert Edwina Caito agrees. She explains that the idea that human pheromones affect attraction is at best dubious.
“Humans do secrete sex pheromones, but whether they still elicit a response as before is debatable… while our vaginal secretions contain a small amount of pheromones, it’s not enough to brew a pheromone perfume,” Caito adds.
Professor Erick Janssen, a neuroscientist at KU Leuven in Belgium, told EuroNews that pheromones in animals “influence sexual and reproductive behavior and possibly partner preference and selection.”
But for humans, “he seriously questions the validity of the claims” about the viral trend he calls a “rage” or “fad.”
“Pheromones are not something we consciously smell,” Janssen said.
So while vabbing may sound convincing, it’s unlikely to be the pheromone powerhouse that TikTok claims.
Placebo Effect
However, the placebo effect can play a role – people may feel more confident when vabbing, making them naturally more attractive.
“If the act of vabbing makes you feel more attractive, that will be seen as outward confidence, which in itself is beautiful,” shares Caito.
Risks of Vabbing
If you still insist on vabbing, make sure you are aware of the risks.
Hygiene is important
Wash your hands before vabbing. Inserting dirty fingers into the vagina increases the risk of introducing bacteria, which can lead to infections or even infertility.
“Using dirty fingers to collect secretions in your vagina can not only potentially damage the tissues in your vagina but also spread infections, potentially causing something as serious as pelvic inflammatory disease,” warned Dr. Paraskevi Dimitriadi, a gynecologist in London.
“Dirty fingers can also cause bacterial vaginosis or thrush,” she adds.
You can spread a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
Vabbing is not just about applying fluids to your own body – it’s also about where those fluids go next.
“Vabbing is not the best idea if you have an STI, as they can be spread both through skin-to-skin contact and through body fluids,” explains Caito. “If you dab your essence behind your ear and your partner later gives you a full kiss, lick, and suck on your lobe – then there is a slight chance they could pick up bacteria or a virus.”
Social etiquette gray area
Let’s be honest – most people wouldn’t be thrilled to hear that someone is using vaginal fluid as perfume, and some online users recoil at the practice.
“Ok, I’m done with the internet!!!! You women who are doing vabbing are rotten,” tweets a disgusted user.
“Honestly I find it so disgusting,” shares another on TikTok, while a third writes: ”I won’t touch any person anymore.”
So, what do you think? Would you ever try vabbing, or is this a TikTok trend you’d rather skip? Let us know what you think and share this story so we can hear from others!
