Is stress getting to you? Your partner's scent will calm you down.

A partner's scent can help reduce stress levels, according to researchers from the University of British Columbia. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that women feel calmer after being exposed to their partner's scent. Conversely, exposure to the scent of a strange man increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

"Many people wear their partner's T-shirt or sleep on their side of the bed when they're away, without realizing why ," explains Marlise Hofer, the study's lead author. "Our findings suggest that simply smelling a partner, even without their physical presence, can be a powerful tool for reducing stress."

The course of the study

The study involved 96 heterosexual couples. The men wore the T-shirt for 24 hours, but were prohibited from using deodorant, scented body products, smoking, or eating any foods that could alter their odor. The T-shirts were then frozen. Women, on the other hand, were randomly assigned to sniff T-shirts (because they have a better sense of smell than men)—either unworn, worn by their partner, or worn by a stranger. The women didn't know whose T-shirt they were sniffing. They were then subjected to a test that involved a mock job interview and mentally solving a math problem. The women also answered questions about their stress levels. Furthermore, saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol levels.

Study results

Women who smelled their partners' T-shirts were less stressed before and after the test. Women who smelled their partner's clothing and correctly identified the scent had lower cortisol levels. This suggests that the anti-stress properties of a loved one's scent are stronger when women know what they are smelling. Participants assigned to wear strangers' T-shirts showed higher levels of the stress hormone.

Interpretation of the result The authors of the study speculate that evolutionary factors may provide an answer to the question of why the scent of a stranger raises cortisol levels. From a young age, people are afraid of strangers, especially men, so it's likely that the scent of a stranger triggers a "fight or flight" response, which in turn increases cortisol levels , Hofer emphasizes. Professor Frances Chen adds that the study results may help people who travel for work or move to other cities, far from loved ones, combat stress. In such cases, a piece of clothing from a partner can reduce stress levels.