Another day, another disturbing social media trend. This time, it’s “vabbing,” the act of dabbing vaginal fluid onto pulse points in place of perfume. According to vabbing enthusiasts, using discharge as perfume on your wrists, neck, and behind the ears is a way to attract men using your natural scent.
Healthline calls vabbing a “somewhat fringe sex trend,” but thanks to TikTok, the trend has been gaining traction for the last few years. According to Vice, vabbing really took off on social media after TikToker Mandy Lee shared a since-deleted video about it. She’s far from the only one talking about it, though. Here’s a video from @jewliah explaining the “Basic Rules of Vabbing.”
@jewlieah ♬ original sound – jewlieah
And in case you were wondering, no, it’s not satire.
Here are a few of the comments on jewliah’s video: “Are y’all telling me to use p juice as a perfume,” “I am NEVER hugging anyone again,” and “surely people don’t actually do this.”
Unfortunately, I’m here to be the bearer of bad news: Yes, people do actually do this.
Now onto the next question — Why are people doing this? The concept behind vabbing all comes back to pheromones. In 2019, sexologist Shan Boodram explained the “science” behind vabbing:
The idea is that vaginal secretions contain pheromones, which can make you more attractive to potential partners… but there’s little research to support the effect of pheromones on human mating behavior (most of the research on pheromones has been done with animals).
The truth is, even though people have anecdotal stories about the success of vabbing, there’s no real evidence to back up the claims that vabbing attracts mates. According to a study published in the medical journal Reproductive, Female and Child Health in 2023, “there is no definite evidence to support the efficacy of the practice.”
Of course, we also have to take into account the placebo effect. Many people who try vabbing say they feel more confident after applying their genital secretions to their skin — that confidence could lead to more positive interactions with potential sexual partners.
So, what’s the downside? Apart from the ick factor, doctors don’t recommend vabbing because of the possibility of infection. The biggest concern is with the collection process — if you use unwashed fingers to collect vaginal fluids, you might introduce bacteria and/or damage the tissue in your vagina. Dr. Paraskevi Dimitriadi, a cosmetic gynecologist, told the Daily Mail that vabbing can lead to bacterial vaginosis, thrush (a yeast infection), or even something as serious as pelvic inflammatory disease.
Whether or not you choose to vab is a personal decision, but with no proven benefits and a few potential risks, we’d recommend against it. If you’re looking to attract people with your own personal scent, maybe just opt for unscented body care products.
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
