What is the Science Behind Ingredients in Sephora Sol De Janeiro Body Butter Attracting Spiders?

If you are a fan of Sephora’s Sol De Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter, you might want to think twice before slathering it on your skin. A recent viral rumor claims that this popular product attracts spiders, and not in a good way.

How the Sephora Body Butter Butter Spider Magnet Rumor Started

The rumor started when several social media users on Reddit and TikTok posted videos or forum posts claiming that they had encountered wolf spiders, black widows, and other spider species chasing them after using the body butter. Some of these posts showed footage of spiders crawling on the walls, floors, and even on the users themselves.

One Reddit user wrote: “I bought this body butter from Sephora because it smelled amazing and had good reviews. But ever since I started using it, I’ve been noticing more and more spiders in my house. And they seem to be following me around. I swear I saw one jump at me the other day. I’m terrified. Is this normal? Does anyone else have this problem?”

Another TikTok user posted a video of herself screaming and running away from a large spider that was crawling on her bed. She captioned the video: “I ran left, It ran left”.

The posts quickly went viral, attracting thousands of views, comments, and shares. Some people expressed sympathy and horror, while others joked about sending the body butter to their enemies or exes as a prank. Some even suggested that the body butter could be used in areas where you have roach issues, so Spiders will wipe them out.

What Ingredients in Sephora’s Sol De Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter Attract Spiders? The Science Behind the Rumor

Is there any truth to this rumor? Does the Sephora body butter really attract spiders? And if so, why? To answer these questions, we need to look at the ingredients of the Sol De Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter, which is the product in question.

According to the Sephora website, this body butter is a “deeply moisturizing” cream that “replenishes the skin’s barrier and locks in moisture”. It contains several natural ingredients, such as bacuri butter, copaiba resin, passionflower seed oil, prebiotic hibiscus, and hyaluronic acid.

While these ingredients may sound harmless and beneficial for the skin, some of them may also have an unintended effect on spiders. According to some experts, spiders are attracted by certain smells, especially those that indicate the presence of insects, their primary food source. Some of these smells include fruits, flowers, and honey, which are also common ingredients in cosmetics and perfumes.

Therefore, it is possible that some of the ingredients in the Sephora body butter, such as hibiscus, passionflower, and bacuri, may emit a floral or fruity scent that appeals to spiders. This scent may signal to spiders that there is a potential meal nearby, and prompt them to investigate. This may explain why some users reported seeing more spiders in their homes after using the body butter.

However, this does not mean that the body butter causes spiders to attack or chase humans. Spiders are generally shy and avoidant creatures, that only bite when they feel threatened or provoked. Most spider bites are harmless and cause only mild symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and itching. Only a few spider species, such as black widows and brown recluses, can cause serious or life-threatening reactions, such as necrosis, muscle spasms, or respiratory failure.

Therefore, the best way to prevent spider bites is to avoid contact with spiders, and to seek medical attention if bitten by a venomous spider. If you are concerned about spiders in your home, you can take some steps to deter them, such as sealing cracks and gaps, removing clutter, and using natural repellents, such as peppermint oil, vinegar, or citrus.

As for the Sephora body butter, you may want to add peppermint oil to it to help deter spiders, but it is up to you whether you want to continue using it or not. While it may not be the best choice if you have a spider phobia, it may still have some benefits for your skin.

However, if you do use it, you may want to be extra careful and vigilant, and keep an eye out for any unwanted visitors. You never know when a spider may be lurking nearby, waiting for a chance to get a whiff of your delicious scent.