Baby Bacon: Do Men Prefer Bacon to Their Own Children?

12/17/09  Print This Post Print This Post    5 Comments      Written by Candice Walsh
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Photo by rick.

Which scents do men prefer to the smell of a newborn baby? According to One Poll, just about everything.

One Poll recently surveyed 4,000 Brits to determine their most preferred scents. Among the top 20 are freshly baked bread, vanilla, fish and chips, bacon frying, a freshly lit match, Petrol, and rubber tires.

Much of our smell preferences may have to do with our earliest impressions, whether they’re good or bad. According to ScienceDaily, we associate certain memories with certain smells, provoking feelings of nostalgia and comfort.

Of course, since we are all individuals, our past experiences help shape how we remember certain events. Happy childhood memories, for example, are associated with pleasant smells.

However, this list varies for the sexes. For men, new-baby smell ranks at number 18, while frying bacon sits at seventh and Petrol is at 12th. Yes, the mouth-watering, sultry smell of pig frying in a pan is more alluring than that adorable, indescribable scent you draw in from the top of a baby’s head.

Photo by misteraitch

So what does this mean for men? Are fathers less likely to become attached to their child than mothers? Should men more actively pursue forming a bond with baby?

Men, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Give a midnight bottle – Be there as soon as baby awakes, taking a heroic stance over the cradle with bottle in hand.

2. Change diapers – That’s one smell that should inspire some strong scent memory.

3. Be there for a cold or fever – Claim the role of fierce protector.

4. Take a bath together – Few things are more fun than bath playtime for two, plus rubber ducky.

5. Be a texture board – Let your baby tug your beard, poke your eyeballs or stick a finger in your nose. There’s lots of terrain to cover.

My solution? A baby powder scented with the flavour of bacon. Just keep your baby out of the sun.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Want more fun? Make your life incredible and amazing with bacon, or share your most treasured scents with us in the comments below.


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About the Author

Matador ID: candicew86

Candice Walsh is a technical writer for a deep sea technology company. When she isn’t writing about sonar equipment, she’s shooting whiskey and hitting on men, or eating nachos and dreaming about travel. She’s currently stationed in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Check out her blog, Candice Does the World.

5 Comments... join the discussion!

  • Chris replied on December 17, 2009

    How can you beat the smell of fresh air after rain so much better than bacon, not to mention a lot healthier for you :) I’ve never quite got the handle on fresh baby smell but all the mums I know swear by it.

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    • Leigh Shulman replied to Chris on December 19, 2009

      Newborn baby smell, I think, is one of those things that originates deep in our reptilian brains. Could you imagine if moms didn’t fall head over heels with the smell?

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  • Julie replied on December 17, 2009

    Wow… petrol and burning rubber tires rather than a newborn baby, which has THE best smell ever?!

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    • Leigh Shulman replied to Julie on December 19, 2009

      We used Burt’s Bees apricot oil when Lila was a newborn (instead of diaper rash cream. Also helps protect against the meconium — but that’s another topic altogether).

      Now, whenever I smell that apricot oil, it takes me right back to those first few weeks of her life. I literally have a visceral reaction to it. I try not to smell it too often, though, because I don’t want to change the association with it.

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  • AdventureRob replied on December 21, 2009

    I prefer all the listed smells rather than a stinky baby ;-)

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