TikTok has given us plenty of wild trends, but vabbing might just top the list. The viral trend claims that dabbing vaginal secretions on your pulse points makes you irresistible to the opposite sex, and influencers swear by it.
But before you reach for your secret fragrance – a practice called “revolting” by some – let’s see what actual science has to say.
Spoiler alert: Scientists say it makes no sense.
Vabbing – a mashup of vagina and dabbing – involves dabbing vaginal fluids onto pulse points like the wrists, neck, and behind the ears, just like perfume.
The idea is that these secretions contain pheromones, invisible chemical signals that supposedly enhances attraction.
The trend exploded when influencer Mandy Lee claimed in a viralTikTokthat vabbing was the secret to getting more dates: “I swear if you vab, you will attract people, like a date or a one-night stand,” she said, as perDaily Mail.
She said: “Get up there, give ’em a swipe. You don’t have to be fresh out of the shower clean but relatively clean. Dab vab behind the ears, on the wrists, maybe a little on the neck.
“I don’t know what they’re putting in pheromone perfume but it can’t replicate your own smell and your own personalised chemicals. Proceed with caution — because it works.”
That video racked up over 1.5 million views before it was deleted by the platform, and suddenly, vabbing was the internet’s newest obsession, with new clips popping up, praising the trend that some users insist makes them moredesirable.
“You guys aren’t going to believe me,” says TikToker @jewlieah in a clip captioned “Vabbing at the gym for the first time.” “…it worked, the vabbing worked!”
Meanwhile on X, a user who goes by the namepick me, writes: “I want everyone to know that vabbing works. Not a joke.”
But before you jump on the trend, let’s dig into what actual science says about pheromones, and whether vabbing is just another case of TikTok wishful thinking.
Humans and pheromones
The logic behind vabbing is simple: If animals use pheromones to attract mates, humans must too, right?
Pheromones are well-documented in animals. Many species use them for marking territory, signaling danger, or attracting mates. For example, a female moth can release pheromones that draw males from miles away.
But humans aren’t so lucky.
According to astudyon “body odors” and sexual attraction, “pheromones play an important role in how animals communicate with each other,” but “research is divided as to whether pheromones play a significant role in sexual and romantic compatibility for humans.”
Speaking withCosmopolitan, sex expert Edwina Caito agrees. She explains the idea that human pheromones influence attraction is questionable at best.
“Humans do secrete sex pheromones, but the jury is still out on whether or not they still create a reaction as they once did…although our vaginal secretions do have a small amount of pheromones, it’s not enough to brew up a pheromone perfume” Caito adds.
Professor Erick Janssen, a neuroscientist at KU Leven in Belgium toldEuroNewsthat in animals, pheromones “impact sexual and reproductive behaviour, and possibly partner preference and selection.”
But, for humans, he “seriously questions the validity of the claims involved” in theviraltrend that he calls a “fad” or “vad.”
“Pheromones are not things we consciously smell,” Janssen said.
So, while vabbing might sound convincing, it’s unlikely to be the pheromone powerhouse TikTok claims.
Placebo effect
However, the placebo effect could be at play – people might feel more confident when they vab, which makes them naturally more attractive.
“If the act of vabbing makes you feel more attractive, that will be perceived as outward confidence, which in and of itself is beautiful,” Caito shares.
Risks with vabbing
If you still insist on vabbing, make sure you’re aware of the risks.
Hygiene matters
Before you vab, wash your hands. Inserting dirty fingers into the vagina increases the risk of introducing bacteria, which can lead to infections, or even infertility, warns Dr Paraskevi Dimitriadi, a gynaecologist in London.
