Grapefruit May Make Women Seem Younger

NEW YORK (AP) _ A study of smells shows that the scent of grapefruit on women make them seem younger to men _ about six years younger

However, a grapefruit fragrance on men does nothing for them.

The study by the Smell and Taste Institute in Chicago was conducted to determine what makes a women smell young _ but not too young, like pink bubble gum.

Institute director Alan Hirsch said he smeared several middle-aged woman with broccoli, banana, spearmint leaves, and lavender but none of those scents made a difference to the men.

But the scent of grapefruit changed men's perceptions. Hirsch said that when male volunteers were asked to write down how old the woman with grapefruit odor was, the age was considerably less than reality.