Does This Viral Skincare Product Actually Attract Spiders? 

Does This Viral Skincare Product Actually Attract Spiders? 

News stories are the most fun to read when it feels like the topics come out of left field. Case in point: a moisturizer that a couple of online Sephora reviews claimed to have attracted wolf spiders. Spiders are generally one of the creepiest pests we see, but wolf spiders are on an entirely different level, what with their furry bodies and hundreds of babies they carry on their backs. With this in mind, it’s understandable how quickly these reviews blew up on social media and resulted in an almost week-long saga of events that led to a relief-filled (albeit lackluster) conclusion. Let’s dive into the full story of how this body butter may or may not attract wolf spiders before discussing some common scents that continuously attract spiders of all kinds. 

The Viral Skincare Moment

If you missed the series of events, consider this a short summary of the strange story. On December 24, 2023, two reviews on Sephora’s website began to garner attention from social media for their alarming claims about wolf spider sightings. These reviews were for the Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter, a new product at Sephora. The reviewers described harrowing experiences of applying the body butter and finding themselves face-to-face with a wolf spider soon after. One reviewer said the body butter is “kryptonite” for wolf spiders since they see one every time they use the skincare product. 

Once the reviews began to gain traction on other sites, some people were motivated to get to the bottom of how a delightful skincare product could possibly attract wolf spiders. The next viral piece of the puzzle was posted on December 27, 2023, when a Reddit profile named Marchingkoala delivered their research on the ingredients. This user claimed that the body butter contains a blend of farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate, which were said to attract male wolf spiders in a study published by the Journal of Chemical Ecology. The study also said that these two chemicals combined with diisobutyl phthalate are found in the webs of female wolf spiders that are ready to mate.

Basically, this study seemed to suggest that the body butter is only attracting wolf spiders because it’s acting as a pheromone-based mating call!

Expert Opinions

Not to worry, though: an established expert took to social media to set the record straight two days later, on December 29. Javon Ford, a cosmetic chemist, essentially debunked every myth surrounding this body butter. For one, he clarified that the all-important study was actually for skull spiders, not wolf spiders. He also explained that hexadecyl acetate and farnesyl acetate would need to be combined with exact precision to mimic the female wolf spider’s pheromones, and the chances of that happening are slim to none. Plus, Ford had never heard of a skincare product containing hexadecyl acetate, though it could be possible. Sol de Janiero didn’t reveal the exact combination of ingredients used to create this body butter, so we don’t know everything that it contains.

Speaking of Sol de Janeiro, the brand made a wise choice to set the record straight themselves on December 30. They stated that the Delícia Drench Body Butter doesn’t contain any hexadecyl acetate, farnesyl acetate, or diisobutyl phthalate. Since these are the essential ingredients in attracting male wolf spiders, it’s safe to say that this body butter cannot simulate the pheromones of female wolf spiders. The brand’s statements gave everyone keeping up with the story a major sense of relief, which prompted Marchingkoala to take to Reddit one more time. They clarified that they don’t know if the body butter has all three infamous ingredients (it doesn’t) since the full ingredient list wasn’t released.

We’re thankful that the case is closed on this viral body butter, but it does leave the question unanswered as to why the original Sephora reviewers kept seeing wolf spiders.  

The Reality of It All

Since we know that the Delícia Drench Body Butter doesn’t attract the attention of adult wolf spiders, we can rule that out of the reasons why the Sephora customers saw so many in their homes. The likely reason is much simpler, in our opinion. This skincare product launched in early winter, when the temperatures are cold and the winter chill is already setting in. This is the time of year when all kinds of pests seek shelter from the incoming frost. Pest problems don’t end when summer does, as these creepy-crawlies would still prefer to live in our homes. One such pest is indeed the wolf spider.

We don’t know the reviewers personally, but we would venture to guess that the wolf spiders were just there because they found an entry point into their homes and decided to take advantage of it. This just so happened to be after the customers applied the body butter, which made it easy to believe that the skincare product was the cause for the spiders’ presence.

Wolf spiders love to live outdoors most of the year since they’re hunters and can hide under rocks and leaf litter in between hunting for their prey. But once the weather cools down, the wolf spider seeks a shelter that will allow them to overwinter in a cozy space. We can only hope that the Sephora reviewers schedule professional pest control services to solve their wolf spider issues so they can continue to use the Delícia Drench Body Butter in peace. 

So, What Scents Truly Attract Wolf Spiders?

All of this talk about what attracts wolf spiders to a house causes many of us to wonder which scents will actually bring these arachnids to the scene. Wolf spiders, like any other spider, don’t have noses with which to smell. Instead, they have scent receptors on their pedipalps — sensory appendages on the side of their head — and smaller scent receptors on their taste receptors. Wolf spiders need to touch items to smell them the most clearly because of these features, but they can also detect some odors that are strong and airborne. So wolf spiders may not be attracted to a famous body butter, but they can still use scent trails to find their next prey or shelter.

These are some of the most appealing smells to wolf spiders for one reason or another:

• Our Food: Contrary to many other pests, spiders don’t eat our food and therefore aren’t attracted to our food and drinks for consumption purposes. Rather, spiders are attracted to our food because they know that their prey is also drawn to open food, so wolf spiders are sure to find some of their own food near ours.

• Smelly Socks: This is definitely one of the more off-putting smells that wolf spiders like, but it is for a reason similar to the previous. Wolf spiders know that mosquitoes and flies are attracted to sweaty used clothing, so the arachnids go towards the odor in pursuit of their unsuspecting prey. 

• Their Prey: Speaking of prey, wolf spiders can actually sniff out their next meal. When they are out hunting, these spiders use all of their senses to find prey wherever they travel. This includes touch, sight (though theirs isn’t great), touch, and smell. Wolf spiders have an easier time with scent if their prey is near an odorous object, like a dumpster or a grill.

• Female Spider Pheromones: Finally, the one that was the whole reason why Sol de Janeiro’s Delícia Drench Body Butter was put on the social media map for a strange reason: female wolf spider pheromones. When the adult female spiders are ready to mate, they release pheromones through their silk webbing. Adult males follow the scent trail of these pheromones to their next mate, and the pheromones will continue to release throughout the mating process.

Pointe Sniffs Out Spider Problems 

Even if you don’t own any skincare products that allegedly attract spiders, they would still love to live in your cozy home. They can survive in any house or building throughout the year, especially if there is a pre-existing pest problem. No matter the specifics of your spider issue, Pointe Pest Control is here to help! Our technicians are all fully trained and experienced in solving spider issues. We create a customized treatment plan for each client that will not only eliminate current spiders, but also prevent other spiders from invading in the future. Between our targeted treatments and environmentally-friendly practices, we guarantee that we will keep your home pest-free all year long. We look forward to serving you, so contact us today to learn more about our reliable spider control services!

Citations

Baker, A. (2024, January 2). A comprehensive guide to the viral Sol de Janeiro spider theory. Popsugar. Available at https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/sol-de-janeiro-body-cream-spider-claims-49328103 (Accessed on January 4, 2024). 

Can spiders smell?(Extraordinary!). (n.d.). Spider Advisor. Retrieved January 4, 2024, from https://spideradvisor.com/can-spiders-smell/ 

Choi, C.Q. (2011, February 15). Spiders love sweaty-sock smell, research finds. Live Science. Available at https://www.livescience.com/12877-jumping-spiders-smelly-socks-malaria.html (Accessed on January 4, 2024).

Grindell, S. (2024, January 1). Sol de Janeiro shuts down claims its body butter attracts wolf spiders after Sephora reviews go viral. Business Insider. Available at https://www.businessinsider.com/sol-de-janeiro-body-butter-doesnt-attract-spiders-sephora-reviews-2024-1 (Accessed on January 4, 2024). 

Johnson, A. (2023, December 30). Sephora-sold body butter isn’t spider seducer, experts say, after viral review. Forbes. Available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/12/30/sephora-sold-body-butter-isnt-spider-seducer-experts-say-after-viral-review/?sh=2918e7b71e65 (Accessed on January 4, 2024).

Knowing what attracts spiders in the house helps prevent infestations. (2023, April 5). Gunter Pest & Lawn. Retrieved January 4, 2024, from https://www.gunterpest.com/news/what-attracts-spiders-in-the-house/