Ovulation may carry invisible signals. A new study shows that certain scent compounds in female body odor can make men feel calmer—and find women more attractive.

Multiple peer-reviewed studies and scientific reports indicate that female body odor changes during the ovulatory phase, with specific scent compounds becoming more prominent. These olfactory signals have been shown to affect male physiological and psychological responses, including modulating hormone levels such as testosterone and cortisol, which can influence mood and attraction. Research from the University of Tokyo and other institutions found that men exposed to these ovulatory scents rated women as more attractive and experienced calming effects.

However, while these findings are consistent, the exact mechanisms and the extent of these effects in naturalistic settings remain areas of ongoing research. Some studies also caution that these scent compounds are not pheromones in the strict biological sense but still carry subtle social and biological signals.