The smell during sex comes from a mix of sweat glands, bodily fluids like semen and vaginal secretions, and bacteria breaking down proteins. Hormones also affect how strong or mild the scent is. Sex pheromones are a special type of olfactory signal produced to attract the opposite sex and promote mating or other behaviors closely related to sexual reproduction.

This scent varies widely among individuals due to genetics, diet, hormones, and emotional states during …