You've probably heard that pheromones attract potential romantic partners, but have you ever considered that certain scents might attract the attention of spiders?
Beauty enthusiasts have claimed on Sephora's website that the wildly popular Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter not only moisturizes, but also attracts wolf spiders.
The comments quickly went viral on X, formerly Twitter, and Reddit, where amateur arachnologists investigated the rumors.
FEMAIL spoke to experts to find out if there is any truth to the creepy claims.
Beauty enthusiasts flocked to the Sephora website to claim that the wildly popular Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter not only moisturizes, but also attracts wolf spiders
Samantha Ruddy brought the rumors to light when she tweeted on X, “They're doing spider science on the Sephora Reddit,” and shared screenshots of comments on the store's site.
Reviewers of the Delícia Drench Body Butter for Intense Moisture and Skin Barrier Repair claimed that the body butter attracts wolf spiders
On December 26, Samantha Ruddy brought the rumors to light when she tweeted, “They're doing spider science on the Sephora Reddit,” sharing screenshots of comments on the beauty chain's site.
Reviewers of the Delícia Drench Body Butter for Intense Moisture and Skin Barrier Repair claimed that the cream attracts wolf spiders, with one person stating that they saw one wolf spider per day after using the lotion.
Another wrote: 'If you're a fan of soft, hydrated skin with a tropical scent that screams vacation (and spiders), this is the cream for you. Several people have to call because I can't even sleep in my own house anymore. There is literally a family of wolf spiders living in every room of my house.”
A third review said: 'Love the smell and consistency. But every time I wear this I have noticed spiders. Google image called them wolf spiders.”
Despite the glowing spider reviews, the cream has 4.6 out of 5 stars on the beauty site.
In the FAQ section of the site, a concerned customer asked: 'Does it actually attract spiders? I'm terrified of spiders so I want to know before I buy it,” to which one commenter accused the same reviewer of writing ittwo lengthy disturbing spider reviews' for various products, calling the reviews 'unhinged' and 'defamatory'.
Despite the answer to the FAQ, commenters had a field day on Twitter with the ridiculous reviews. One person joked: “So for just $48 I can send my enemies a cream that will make them get attacked by spiders…. Noted.'
“For just $48 I can stop being lonely,” one X user joked, while another joked, “I'm definitely giving this to my boss.”
Although there were only a few negative reviews on Sephora, people on X had a great day with the comments, and some were concerned about purchasing the cream
“Attacked… you see, I saw this as a magical cream that shows me how to collect mystical spider friends. To each their own,” read another popular comment from X.
A body butter fan asked: 'Is it just this purple one, or the yellow and blue one??? If it's all this brand I'll throw mine away, to which someone else assured them it's just the purple tub.
Another put-off potential beauty buyer tweeted: 'Thank God you posted it because I hate bugs and I recently looked at this brand.'
Some were just confused about the ingredients and said, 'The person who made that must be a witch or something. How do you just make a lotion that attracts spiders?!”
Others suggested people use the same brand's Brazilian Bum Bum cream ($48), writing: 'Buy the Bum Bum cream. Years of use. Not a single spider has chased me.”
The rumor reached Reddit, where one person asked the Sephora community if anyone had used the now infamous body butter
The rumor then reached Redditwhere one person asked the Sephora community, “Anyone who has used the Sol de Janeiro Wolf Spider Cream” to “please come forward with your results.”
“This is now a Sephora urban legend and I love it,” one commenter replied.
Others saw themselves as amateur arachnologists and took it upon themselves to research the ingredients, claiming that certain chemicals could “bring all the thirsty boy spiders to your garden.”
“The only thing worse than a spider running towards me is a spider running towards me because of excitement, thanks for your research,” one Reddit user joked.
Some people shared their own personal arachnid anecdotes.
One wrote: 'My colleague has been finding random spiders on her desk for weeks. I asked her if she used Sol de Janeiro body butter and she got it from her desk.”
Dr. Sadick explained that no skin care has been shown to attract insects, and that the only way body butter could attract spiders or insects would be if the products had a particularly pungent scent.
Neil Sadicka clinical professor of dermatology at Weil College Cornell with his own private practice in Manhattan, told FEMAIL that no clinical studies have been done to prove that the ingredients in the cream contain lured spiders.
Dr. Sadick went on to explain that no skin care has been shown to attract insects, and that the only way body butter could possibly attract spiders or insects would be if the products had a particularly pungent scent.
Amarillo, cosmetic surgeon from Texas Dr. Rouzbeh Kordestani was it with Dr. Sadick agreed, telling DailyMail.com that there was “no evidence or studies that would support that these ingredients only attract male spiders.”
“However, it could be the mix and match of the person's natural pheromones,” explained Dr. Kordestani said, adding, “That could be the appeal.”
“A person's pheromones can also be an insect deterrent,” Dr. continued. Kordestani.
'It all depends on the individual's body chemistry.
“Unfortunately, or fortunately, this is a case-by-case basis and is entirely determined by the person wearing it.”
Board certified dermatologist Joseph Del Priore in San Diego, California, agreed, explaining that while a 2009 study in the Journal of Chemical Ecology concluded that certain ingredients attract male spiders, it did not refer to wolf spiders.
“According to the ingredient list found online, this specific combination is not found in this Sol de Janeiro body buttercream,” continued Dr. Priore. 'There is no evidence to show that the ingredients in this product attract any form of spider.'