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- The controversial 'aphrodisiac' vabbing has gone viral on TikTok.
- It involves using fluids from your vagina as a perfume to attract a partner or make yourself more attractive to others.
- Some women use it because vaginal secretions contain pheromones, which they believe make them more desirable to others.
TikTok undoubtedly proves us wrong with never-ending viral trends when we think we've heard it all. Ever heard of vabbing? Brace yourself because you're about to discover exactly what it is and why everyone is talking about it.
If you, like me, didn't know about this controversial trend, be careful that your jaw doesn't end up on the floor - or be ready to feel more attractive and desirable than ever using your own natural fluid instead of perfume.
While memes and funny skits may be doing the rounds, there are women who do use this technique and say it works for them.
Before I get ahead of myself, let me get into what it actually is.
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So what is vabbing?
The word is derived from two words, vagina and dabbing - so essentially, it is dabbing with your vaginal fluids. You use the fluids from your vagina as a perfume to attract a partner or other people. You rub your fingers in your vulva and use the juices on your wrists, neck, and back of your ears the way you would when putting on perfume.
But why do this?
This is supposedly an aphrodisiac and, according to some social media posts, works like magic for those who have tried it. Women use it to attract their partners because vaginal secretions contain pheromones, and they believe these make them more attractive and desirable.
If you are wondering what pheromones are, they are a hidden form of communication that triggers a response in the individual receiving signals, such as a hormonal change or specific behaviour.
According to HealthLine, a pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. They are believed to affect the behaviour of the receiving individuals, in this case, sexual partners.
However, although pheromones are an interesting field, the evidence is too weak to conclusively state that humans have them.
A TikToker recently shared a video of how she bumped into someone she knew, and when she leaned in for a hug, the woman who was with her boyfriend at the time had the scent of vabbing.
"Why are you vabbing?" she asked. While some people responded that it works for them, others thought it is taboo - and as expected, many were curious about the thought process behind the trend and whether it actually works.
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On her YouTube channel, Sexologist Shannon Boodram and author of Game of Desire, says she has over the years, shared her insights on vabbing. She has used the technique to "draw people in" and "boost her confidence" for over a decade.
"This notion that our bodies are smelly, gross and need to be treated by commercial products to be acceptable is the idea that came at the same time as consumerism. Prior to this, there was widespread knowledge that pheromones worked in transferring excitement, that pheromones worked in drawing people in."
She does, however, say that she cannot say conclusively whether it works or not but since there are no known risks associated with vabbing, it might be worth a try for the curious.
