If you’ve ever worn a piece of your significant other’s clothing, you’ve probably caught a whiff of them, too. And as it turns out, taking a big whiff is one way to tell exactly where you’re at in your relationship: things on the rocks? Maybe that borrowed shirt, with its undertones of sweat and their environments, seems totally repellent. Honeymoon phase? That rumpled, worn-in button-down may smell like you’re falling in love all over again. You have pheromones to thank: Those little hormone-laden chemicals packed into scents may have the power to sniff out a relationship’s compatibility, becoming a harbinger of breakups or get-togethers, of lust and love, and all of the pain and happiness that goes along with it.
Let’s say your partner’s scent doesn’t have you reaching for the Febreze—don’t feel bad about wanting to keep those hormone-flanked memories alive for as long as possible. No one ever said you have to be so puritanical and do laundry every day. Why not style your emotionally evocative, newly borrowed togs into your own wardrobe? Throw their blazer on for a borrowed-from-the-boys effect, or snag a perfectly worn-in musky hoodie—and pair it with a dress for some date night–ready appeal. It might just keep that good mood going: Skipping the dry cleaners has never felt so sweet.
