Recently on TikTok, a jarring trend has emerged called “vabbing” which Rolling Stone refers to as a “portmanteau of ‘vagina’ and ‘dabbing.’” In this trend, those with vulvas will gather up their vaginal secretions to rub behind their ears in hopes that the pheromones it contains will attract potential suitors. The idea of using pheromones to increase attraction is common; there are often oils and perfumes sold with the intention to enhance your natural pheromones, and there are studies behind the effectiveness of pheromone-based attraction in many species. However, without evidence to support the proposed benefits of vabbing, it has quickly become just a humorous trend and point of discussion on the Internet. But the questions remain: is there any validity to this trend, and where did it come from?
One of the first reported mentions of vabbing in recent years comes from the book The Game of Desire by Shannon Boodram, in which she speaks to her personal success using her vaginal fluids to attract others. ABC reports that podcast the Secret Keepers Club, hosted by Carly Aquilino and Emma Willmann, mentions this phenomenon too, speaking to a trend they sparked within their friend group of using “coochie juice as perfume.” The trend spread like wildfire through the Internet, particularly on TikTok, as users began to share their own testimonies with the practice, including strangers complimenting their perfume or flirting with them in public. This anecdotal evidence was reason enough for hundreds of users to give it a shot, coupled with the unique feature of no downsides to the practice.
Though we speak of this trend in recent terms, there is are rich histories of cultural practices that involve the use of bodily fluids. One 2006 study, for example, examined the Zambian practice of smearing semen and vaginal secretions on an infant to prevent disease exposure and ensure firm skull development. Another historical study on ancient Rome cites that menstrual blood could be used to cure diseases, but also to kill crops and threaten human life. There exists so much discourse and curiosity about the female body in particular and the powers it holds, and it’s interesting to imagine these TikTok trends from today as 21st century folklore.
I happily admit that I love the idea behind this new trend. All of the natural fluids our bodies create are fascinating, especially those that are produced in the world’s most revered organ – the vagina! Besides, perfume is expensive! If there exists a perfect scent that will attract all of my potential suitors that is also free, I will be taking full advantage of it, even if it means getting up close and personal with my vag. This isn’t the first time a trend like this has been introduced either; back in 2020, using your menstrual blood as a face mask became quite popular! Unlike vabbing, this trend has been scientifically debunked as baseless and somewhat unsafe, due to the contamination of dead cells and bacteria in menstrual blood that can interact with the sensitive skin on your face. Vabbing, on the other hand, only requires the fluids to be spread in a small quantity, and not near any sensitive areas or orifices that pose a risk for infection.
If you’re considering vabbing, there are definitely a few hygiene practices to be aware of. First, it is important to always wash your hands thoroughly before and after inserting your fingers into your vagina to avoid infection and contamination. It is also important to remember that just like your vagina, the fluids themselves can carry bacteria, of the naturally occurring variety like yeast or sexually-transmitted like the bacteria from chlamydia. If another person is coming in close contact with you, especially if they are kissing or licking the area in which you applied the juices, it’s cirtical to treat this practice how you would treat oral sex.
As to whether this process is actually effective, there is a gap in research necessary to understand this. According to Insider, there are a few key questions that need to be more thoroughly studied before the effectiveness of vabbing can be proved: “Do humans give off pheromones?” “Can humans sense pheromones?” and “Do humans have a sexual attraction response to pheromones?” Based on existing research, the answer to the first two questions is most likely yes. Pheromones have been studied in other species, and a key compound, androstenone, has been found in human sweat. Since humans have a strong sense of smell and have proven to be able to differentiate between people based on smell, there is reason to believe they may be able to detect pheromones as well. However, there are no conclusive answers to any of these questions yet, particularly the question of whether humans experience sexual attraction to pheromones.
Because of this, vabbing is certainly not a scientific practice or a foolproof way to attract your next partner. But when you look at the science of attraction, one concrete way to attract more people is to exude confidence. If using your juices as perfume makes you feel like the hottest person in the room, then vabbing is serving its purpose.
By Sydney Sullivan