Do you smell different when you ovulate? Episode 144

Randy Schuller (0:00)

Hi, this is Randy, and you're listening to The Beauty Brains, where real scientists answer your beauty questions. For Tuesday, May 26th, 2014

Welcome to the show, Graham, everyone. I'm Randy Schuller, and I'm here with my co-host, Perisaurophilus.

Perry Romanowski (0:26)

Hello, Randy. You know, Perisaurophilus?

Randy Schuller (0:29)

That's a little reference there. I know you like things that incorporate Perry into the name. And Perisaurophis is a species of dinosaur that's well known for its distinctive head structure.

Yeah, it has like this giant tubular crest that is sort of built like a woodwind instrument. And apparently, it could use it to make a loud bellowing noise. And, you know, through the miracle of audio-paleontology, scientists have actually reconstructed how that might have sounded. Would you like to hear it?

Perry Romanowski (1:00)

I would, yes.

Randy Schuller (1:02)

All right, here is Peri's new favorite dinosaur.

Perry Romanowski (1:14)

Wow. Very cool.

I thought you would enjoy that. I do love wildlife, you know. Although, you know, I live in Chicago, like in the city. And at the end of my block, I just saw one of my neighbors reported they saw a coyote.

Randy Schuller (1:31)

The urban coyote.

Perry Romanowski (1:33)

Well, you know what, I'm worried about the urban bunny now. What if the...

Randy Schuller (1:38)

The urban coyote meets urban bunny. That's not going to end well.

Perry Romanowski (1:42)

I know. No, I just hope he gets through this summer okay.

He was lounging the other day in my backyard after chewing down some of the carrots I threw out, and he's just on his back lounging. This rabbit is taking over my yard.

Randy Schuller (1:58)

Well, hopefully, he won't become as extinct as the Parasaurolophus.

Perry Romanowski (2:04)

Right. But I do like that sound of the Parasaurolophus.

Speaking of sound, we have a different kind of show today, huh?

Randy Schuller (2:11)

Well, I thought we'd start off with one of my favorite features, Beauty Science or Bullshit. He says through clenched teeth.

Perry Romanowski (2:26)

Well, I think I'm better than Chance so far.

Randy Schuller (2:30)

Well, you know, this is the game where I give you three headlines of the latest Beauty Science news. Two of them are real. One is made up. I asked you to pick the real one.

And our listeners can play along at home by hitting the pause button before I give you the answer. But, you know, if you are playing at home, please remember, no wagering.

Perry Romanowski (2:51)

Starn.

Randy Schuller (2:52)

Are you ready?

Perry Romanowski (2:54)

I am ready.

Randy Schuller (2:55)

All right, here we go. Number one, contact lens disinfectants are more effective at controlling odor-causing bacteria than most deodorants.

Perry Romanowski (3:06)

All right.

Randy Schuller (3:07)

Number two, getting a flu shot may make your perfume smell funny.

Perry Romanowski (3:14)

Interesting.

Randy Schuller (3:15)

And number three, taking a hay bath is the latest spa treatment to rejuvenate your skin.

Perry Romanowski (3:23)

A hay bath?

Randy Schuller (3:24)

Yeah, taking like a roll in the hay.

Perry Romanowski (3:27)

Right. Interesting. Well, those are three very good ones there. So the contact lens disinfectant is better than the good old triclosan, the deodorant disinfectant.

That's interesting. I always thought that was just a salt solution.

Maybe there's something more. Alright, the second one, about the...

Randy Schuller (4:02)

Getting a flu shot may make your perfume smell funny, right?

Perry Romanowski (4:06)

The flu shot making your perfume smell funny.

So the flu, if you get that shot, it could cause some sort of minor reaction. But I'm a little suspicious of that one. Although, I don't know what the fake story version of it is. And then, the third one, about the...

Randy Schuller (4:29)

Taking a hay bath is the latest spa treatment to rejuvenate skin.

Perry Romanowski (4:34)

The hay bath, that just sounds ridiculous.

As you said, the roll in the hay. But, so one of these is actually fake.

Randy Schuller (4:46)

Oh yeah, that wouldn't be much of a game otherwise.

Perry Romanowski (4:50)

Well, I think the flu shot one is the fake. I don't really think it's going to... The flu shot will change the way that your perfume smells.

Randy Schuller (4:58)

Alright then, so let's break these down. So, you think that taking a roll in the hay is the latest spa treatment to rejuvenate your skin. You think that's true?

Perry Romanowski (5:10)

It wouldn't surprise me, yes.

Randy Schuller (5:12)

Well, you're right, because it is true. So, we're not saying there's any documentation it works, but this is a treatment offered at the Hotel Hubid in Northern Italy, and it allegedly treats everything from obesity to sciatica, to a stiff neck, to skin conditions. So, the way this works is before the treatment, the hay is soaked in hot water, and then you are wrapped in this wet grass for 15 to 20 minutes.