Motherhood, Hormones, and Your Sense of Smell
The Science Behind Smell and Hormonal Shifts
Our sense of smell is one of the most sensitive and adaptive sensory systems in the human body. During pregnancy and the postpartum period, many of us notice that our perception of smell becomes significantly heightened or altered. This is not only anecdotal, it’s biological.
Research suggests that fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels directly influence olfactory receptors and their associated neural pathways. Estrogen in particular enhances olfactory acuity, which may help explain why many pregnant women become more sensitive to both pleasant and unpleasant smells.
This sensitivity isn’t random, it's thought to be evolutionary. Heightened smell may support maternal behaviours such as avoiding toxins, detecting subtle changes in environment, and forming early sensory bonds with a newborn.
What Changes: Why It Matters
Many pregnant and postpartum women report a strong aversion to artificial or synthetic fragrances, overpowering perfumes, and even common household products. Personally I couldn’t stand the fridge, even if my husband did his best to keep it in order. Women tend to be drawn to lighter, more natural, or “clean” smells, such as fresh citrus, fresh linen, herbal tea, or pure floral notes.
This sensory preference is also affected by oxytocin, the hormone responsible for bonding and emotional closeness. Oxytocin levels rise significantly during childbirth and breastfeeding, enhancing emotional responsiveness to sensory cues, particularly touch and smell.
In this context, scent is no longer just aesthetic, it becomes a part of the maternal sensory ecosystem which also has profound influence over mood and stress regulation.
How we Respond to Maternal Olfactory Needs
At De(ux) Mains, our formulations are designed with these physiological changes in mind. We choose soft, low-volatility scent profiles that respect heightened olfactory thresholds and emotional sensitivity during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
In mainstream perfumery, sillage (the scent trail left by a perfume) and projection (how far the scent radiates from the skin) are often viewed as markers of quality and luxury. Many popular fragrances are designed to be bold and long-lasting, using synthetic ingredients like aroma chemicals, fixatives, and artificial musks to achieve noticeable throw of scent off the body and longevity. However, this performance often comes at the cost of subtlety, and sensory comfort, particularly for sensitive users such as pregnant or postpartum women.
At De(ux) Mains, we take the opposite approach. Our goal is not to announce presence, but to support presence, gently and intentionally. We work with low-volatility botanicals and biodegradable molecules that sit close to the skin, respecting the natural rhythms of the body and the hormonal shifts of motherhood. This results in fragrances with intimate sillage and soft projection, designed to be experienced by the wearer and those in close contact, not the whole room.
We believe that fragrance should nurture, not overwhelm. Our formulations reflect a quiet confidence, one that prioritises well-being, emotional resonance, and sensory protection over dramatic throw.
Key principles behind our formulations include:
Our scents are free from phthalates, alcohol, and known irritants.
We balance each blend to maintain a gentle scent presence without overwhelming the senses.
Our profiles often include clean cotton, warm chamomile, rosewater, and herbal lactone notes, scents that evoke softness.
These choices are not only functional but emotionally supportive. Our goal is to enhance daily wellbeing through fragrance, without disrupting the delicate hormonal and emotional balance mothers navigate during this unique stage of life.
We believe that fragrance should adapt to your body, not override it. De(ux) Mains is grounded in maternal science and sensory design, offering a quiet but meaningful form of self-care. Whether it’s the start of the day or a moment of pause after bedtime routines, our fragrances are designed to restore rather than stimulate, and to align with the rhythm of motherhood.
