Final answer:
Scent preferences vary among individuals and play a role in mate selection but are not the sole determinant. Humans have a sophisticated olfactory system with around 350 receptor subtypes sensing thousands of odors including pheromones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research indicates that olfactory cues play a role in mate selection, but scent preferences are not the sole determinant, nor are they culturally universal. Instead, scent preferences vary among individuals. This variation in olfactory preference plays a role in mate selection, alongside a multitude of other factors. Humans perceive odors and pheromones through olfactory receptors, and these cues can have an unconscious impact on social and personal interactions, including attraction.
Humans have approximately 350 olfactory receptor subtypes, allowing them to sense around 10,000 different odors. This sense of smell works in concert with taste to create flavor perceptions. An interesting fact is that dogs generally have more olfactory receptors than humans, with a bloodhound having about 4 billion receptors compared to humans' 12 million. These receptors are responsible for detecting odorants, which includes pheromones that differ from other odor molecules because they are often not consciously perceived and sent to different areas of the brain.