Is store brand mouthwash as good as name brands? Episode 153

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

You're listening to The Beauty Brains Show, where real scientists answer your beauty questions. And now, here's Randi and Perry.

Randy Schuller (0:19)

Greetings, everyone, Randy Schuller and Perry Romanowski here. Hey, Perry, I got a question for you.

Perry Romanowski (0:27)

Sure, sure.

Randy Schuller (0:28)

So you just heard a new voice introduce us, right? That was a listener named Colleen.

So...

Perry Romanowski (0:37)

Lovely, lovely voice.

Randy Schuller (0:38)

Lovely voice, Colleen, thank you. Guess where Colleen is from.

Perry Romanowski (0:44)

Based on the accent, I think Colleen's probably from New Zealand.

Randy Schuller (0:50)

Whoa, geographically, you're close. I think culturally, you may have a problem, because she's from Australia. And aren't the Aussies and the New Zealanders sort of like natural enemies? I'm not sure.

Perry Romanowski (1:02)

I'm not sure. There's a little friction there.

Randy Schuller (1:04)

I think there's some animosity. So anyway, thank you, Colleen. We do appreciate that.

Hey, we need more people to introduce the show, because again, nobody wants to just listen to you and me talk for 30 minutes.

Perry Romanowski (1:16)

Exactly.

Randy Schuller (1:16)

So if you'd like to introduce the show, just record yourself on your smartphone, just like Colleen did, and email it to us at thebeautybrains.gmail.com.

Perry Romanowski (1:27)

You know, we really should update that email to be more professional.

Randy Schuller (1:30)

I thought about that too, but nothing else is professional, so why would you bother?

Perry Romanowski (1:35)

Speaking of not professional, you didn't mention this is episode 153

Randy Schuller (1:39)

Indeed it is. And on program 153, we're going to tell you if you can save money by buying generic Listerine mouthwash, whether it's safe to use those new chrome nail polishes, and if your vitamin C lotion is giving you cancer.

But before we get to all that, how's your broken rib?

Perry Romanowski (2:04)

Well, you know, it still hurts a bit. I'm a little worried because this weekend, I'm supposed to go golfing, so I don't know.

I'm going to manage 18 holes, and then I got the marathon coming. But it still hurts like hell, but I can at least sleep at night.

Randy Schuller (2:19)

And you do that thing where you goggle, where you golf and juggle at the same time? Is that right?

Perry Romanowski (2:25)

Well, I only juggle while waiting to tee off.

Randy Schuller (2:29)

Lucky guess. Well, I hope you feel better.

Perry Romanowski (2:34)

I do. At least the skinned knee is scabbed over nicely.

Randy Schuller (2:40)

Too much information. All right, Perry, are you ready for some beauty science news?

Perry Romanowski (2:44)

I am. Cue that music.

Randy Schuller (2:46)

Let's do it.

Perry Romanowski (2:51)

I guess I have the first story. Hey, Randy, here's an idea that might revolutionize the way people do online dating.

Randy Schuller (3:00)

Okay, which is totally about beauty science.

Perry Romanowski (3:03)

It is. It'll get to it. So instead of picking people based on their looks and dating profiles, there's a project called Smell Dating, which matches people based on whether they like their natural body odor.

So when you sign up for this service, you are sent a T-shirt to wear for three days. Now, you're not allowed to wear perfume or deodorant over those three days. Then you send your shirt, your soiled shirt, you send it off, and you receive samples of other people's soiled shirts, right?

And then you sniff them, and you choose which scent you like the best. And then if somebody likes the same scent, likes your scent and you like their scent, then you're a match. They trade your emails, and then you go out on dates.

Randy Schuller (3:53)

And this is fetish.com? Is that how I get to this?

Perry Romanowski (3:57)

It's Smell Dating. Smelling, not dating, or something like that. Now, interestingly, no information about age, gender, or sexual orientation is provided before you smell the shirt.

Randy Schuller (4:07)

Wait, wait, wait. You said even gender?

Perry Romanowski (4:11)

Right.

Randy Schuller (4:11)

Well, don't you... I mean, come on.

SPEAKER_1 (4:14)

What?

Randy Schuller (4:15)

Don't you need to sort of specify which team you're playing for before you... Like, really?

Perry Romanowski (4:20)

No, no, none of that. None of that.

Well, the idea is that if you like someone's scent, then you theoretically will be more biologically compatible with them.

Randy Schuller (4:31)

That's all that matters.

Perry Romanowski (4:32)

It has to do with, you know, people with compatible immune systems and such.

Randy Schuller (4:37)

The most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of.

Perry Romanowski (4:40)

Now, you might be wondering, does it work? Well, this was a story written up in The Guardian, and so the reporter in The Guardian, she tried it out, and she got four matches, two men and two women.