London - Women find male sweat sexy, a study done by Northumbria University in Newcastle, Britain, has found following a study in which women evaluated pictures of men in the presence of a hidden cloth drenched in male sweat.
Sixteen women students believed they were testing drinks as they evaluated the attractiveness of the men pictured in two tests, during the second of which they were exposed to the sweat-drenched cloth.
The effect was "enormous", one of the researchers, Nick Neave, told a British Psychological Society conference.
"In the presence of the pheromones (contained in male sweat) the men were rated as much more attractive," he said.
In addition, the man rated as least attractive in the first test, scored almost as well as the most attractive man when the cloth was present.
Women not on the pill, and particularly those in the middle of their menstrual cycle, reacted strongly, he said.
Pheromones could not work their magic in civilised society, covered up as they were by clothing, soap and deodorants, Neave said.
The most likely place for them to take effect was in a gym, where there was a plentiful supply of sweaty male bodies, he suggested. - Sapa-DPA