When you’re online as much as the Looksmaxxing community, you’re bound to run into some weird trends. The term originated on incel forums and is a popular practice in the red-pilled community.
Founders of Looksmaxxing (and Merriam-Webster) use the o-word (optimize) to highlight how their techniques (not backed by science and discouraged by medical professionals) can improve appearance.
Mina Le highlights media literacy and how younger boys are in danger of falling for the manosphere rhetoric because of the lack of media literacy when using social media at such a young age.
The suffix -maxxing is a red flag online because of how many are willing to go to look their ‘best’. SoftMaxxing, HardMaxxing, Bone Smashing, Mewing, FertilityMaxxing, SleepMaxxing—the list goes on with increasingly questionable practices that many swear by.
Maxxing Body Odor
The latest maxxing resurgence encourages men to skip showering, avoid deodorant and cologne, wear unwashed clothes, and—in more extreme cases—drink their own urine. This is believed to heighten pheromones and increase attraction from the opposite sex: PheromoneMaxxing.
Complex posted on Instagram, “allowing your natural scent to come through could amplify supposed human pheromones and make you more biologically appealing to potential partners.”
One user said on a TikTok video, “We’re all PheromoneMaxxing in 2026.”
But…are we? Should we?
The answer is no.
Do Humans Have Pheromones?
A pheromone is a chemical secreted in very small amounts by an organism to elicit a specific reaction from another in the same species. Multiple animals emit pheromones for specific behaviors, such as leading others to food sources, signaling danger, and mating behaviors.
Whether humans have pheromones is still a huge question in the scientific world, with Science diving into a 2017 study by Royal Society Open Science questioning whether natural steroids have a similar effect on humans.
Naturally produced steroids found in men’s sweat (androstadienone) and women’s urine (estratetraenol), which are supposed pheromones, could lead participants to find the opposite sex more attractive. The study proved that these steroids had no effect, further calling the concept of human pheromones into question.
Human sexual behavior and attraction are far more complex than the template of animals following their base instincts.
More studies suggested the possibility, but results remain inconclusive. There is no solid evidence to support the presence of human pheromones.
Brut Media explained the complexity of the science simply. “Some studies have also explored whether people respond differently to the natural scents of potential partners. But these findings do not demonstrate that stronger body odor equals greater attraction. Nor do they prove that deliberately skipping a shower before a date will make someone more desirable. The research into human scent and attraction is much more nuanced than the claims circulating around pheromone-maxxing suggest.”
How ‘Maxxing’ Impacts Self Image
Beyond the complex scientific studies behind pheromones, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a webpage on personal hygiene. “Personal hygiene refers to regularly washing parts of the body and hair with soap and water…”
TikToker and physician Dr. Rubin, MD, responded to the discourse surrounding pheromone-maxxing in a stern but kind video. “If you’re trying to pheromone max in 2026 by not changing your clothes or bathing for several days to create some type of scent that will attract women, and potentially even drinking your own urine, I’m sorry to say this, but there’s no scientific basis for this and, in fact will likely repel women from you… to have the confidence to talk to women, you first have to take care of yourself.”
YouTuber Kurtis Conner made a commentary video on Looksmaxxing in 2024, saying: “The funny thing about this is: the Looksmaxxing trend is the most popular with teenage boys…who are currently going through puberty…it’s like, “Yeah, man. No sh*t, you’re starting to look different.” …It’s not looksmaxxing; it’s nature.”
Conner tried techniques popular within the LooksMaxxing community for seven days while sharing his opinions and experiences. He found no difference in his appearance. He explained how easy it is to lie online and how predatory it is to take advantage of others using insecurities for content.
Dr. Rubin said a profound approach is to talk to women and develop relationships that don’t involve avoiding basic hygiene practices. Dr. Rubin also encourages dismantling the classic tropes and beliefs associated with the manosphere.
“If there are women that you want to talk to… treat them like people, not puzzle pieces you’re trying to solve… And from time to time, rejection will happen. Attraction is not owed to you. You can’t force it or manufacture it. I’ve been rejected many times… and yes, it can sting, but you have to move on and accept rejection gracefully.”
I’m gonna say it far less gracefully, unfortunately. Take a shower, wash your hair, and use deodorant and cologne.
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