Of all the trends on the internet, Vabbing is one you should likely stay away from
On TikTok, there was once a very popular trend called ‘vabbing’.
This trend, specifically for women, was quite unusual, but many who tried it believed it worked.
Their experiences led others to give it a shot as well.
For those unfamiliar, vabbing is a mix of the words ‘vagina’ and ‘dabbing’.
It’s essentially the practice of using vaginal fluids as a kind of perfume.
The idea was that these women believed it helped them attract potential dates.
They thought the fluids contained pheromones that could spark sexual attraction in others.
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The term vabbing was first introduced in 2019 by sex expert and author Shan Boodram.
In her book The Game of Desire, she wrote:
“I am certain that every single time I employ it, it makes me feel like an enchanted goddess with a delicious secret.”
Then, in June 2022, a TikTok video by Mandy Lee brought the trend back into the spotlight, especially among younger audiences.
“I swear if you vab, you will attract people, like a date, a one-night stand or you’ll just get free drinks all night,” she said in her video, which has since been removed by TikTok.
She explained: “Get up there, give ’em a swipe.
“You don’t have to be fresh out of the shower clean but relatively clean. Dab vab behind the ears, on the wrists, maybe a little on the neck.
“I don’t know what they’re putting in pheromone perfume but it can’t replicate your own smell and your own personalised chemicals.
“Proceed with caution — because it works.”
Although TikTok took down her video, many other creators have continued to promote the technique.
A plus-size OnlyFans creator named Jewliah posted a video titled ‘Vabbing 101’ where she explained how to follow the trend in a supposedly hygienic way.
In her video, she clarified, “Disclaimer, I did not come up with vabbing. But I’ve done it for a week and it’s been working for me.”
That video reached 2.2 million views.
She advises people to shower first, wash their hands before and after, and avoid vabbing while on their period.
Jewliah also warned people against vabbing if they have any sexually transmitted illnesses or if they notice an unusual or unpleasant odor coming from their genital area.
She added that women who vab should wipe down gym equipment after use and avoid letting vabbed areas touch surfaces.
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Despite some claiming it worked, opinions shifted when they learned what the medical community had to say about the practice.
The biggest concern about vabbing was hygiene. Dr. Hana Patel, a doctor and women’s health expert in South London, spoke with Women’s Health and highlighted how risky the trend is.
“There is the potential to get an infection,” she said.
“We have bacteria and fungi on our skin, and if we upset the vagina’s natural balance, it can cause a localized infection.”
Moreover, London gynecologist Paraskevi Dimitriadi told the Daily Mail that vabbing could result in conditions like vaginosis or thrush, warning that bacteria from your hands could easily cause harm during vabbing.
She explained, “If you have bacterial vaginosis or thrush your discharge can be malodorous and will not help you attract a partner.”
Vabbing might even cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or, in extreme cases, lead to infertility.
However, PID and infertility would only develop in the most severe scenarios.
For those who were still willing to vab, despite the risks, due to its supposed effectiveness, medical experts revealed that it simply doesn’t work.
Dimitriadi noted, “We secrete the same pheromones throughout the glands of our body.
“We have pheromones in our sweat. We also secrete pheromones through urine and we don’t put that on our bodies.
“There is absolutely no need to use your vaginal discharge on other parts of your body to attract a partner.”*
Gynecologist Uma Vaidyanathan from Fortis Hospital also addressed the trend’s lack of scientific support in an interview with the Indian Express, stating:
“The concept of pheromones exists in animals, but, we are an evolved species. All of these [trends] have no scientific basis at all.”
