BY KIMBERLY ESKIN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Dating is certainly not what is used to be. A traditional exchange of numbers at the local bar or meeting someone through a friend has evolved into scanning online profiles with dating sites such as eHarmony and Match.com.

However, dating has now become even more radical. Computers aren’t necessary. Just an old t-shirt and your nose! That’s right. You’re smelling out your partner’s pheromones, a little like a dog. But, hey, don’t knock it till you try it.

Pheromone dating was founded by Judith Prays, a web developer. Frustrated with unsuccessful online dating, Prays developed the idea for Pheromone Parties when she entered into a long-term relationship with a man who, on paper, didn’t appear a good match, but caught Prays’ attention with his unique smell. According to the Huffington Post, Prays came to the realization that "Even when he smelled objectively bad, I thought he smelled really good. And so I thought, OK, maybe I should be dating based on smell?"

Of course, something as unconventional and seemingly ridiculous as dating by smell has generated doubters. Stephen Colbert joked on an episode of The Colbert Report that aired on April 23, “It’s doubly convenient because should you suddenly have the agonizing realization that you’ve been reduced to smelling old t-shirts to find a date, your head is already in a plastic bag. Just…just zip it shut.”