There have been many crazy phenomena on TikTok, but vabbing may be the most popular. Influencers vouch for the popular craze, which says that rubbing vaginal fluids on your pulse spots makes you desirable to people of the other sex.
Let’s examine what real science has to say before you grab for your secret scent, which some people refer to as “revolting.”
Vabbing, a mix of “vagina” and “dabbing,” involves applying vaginal secretions to pulse points like the neck and wrists, supposedly to enhance attraction due to pheromones. The trend gained traction when influencer Mandy Lee suggested on TikTok that vabbing could help land dates. Despite the widespread popularity of the practice, scientists are skeptical. While pheromones are known to influence animals’ mating behaviors, there’s little evidence to support their impact on human attraction. According to experts like Edwina Caito and Professor Erick Janssen, the idea that human pheromones play a significant role in attraction is dubious. Research on the subject is divided, and there’s little proof that vabbing has any scientific basis.
Though it might boost confidence in some, leading to the placebo effect, vabbing comes with risks. Unsanitary practices could introduce harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of infections or even infertility. Additionally, the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is possible. Public reactions to vabbing have been mixed, with some expressing disgust, showing that the practice remains controversial despite its viral rise.
