Crazy dating trends we hope go away

Love at first sniff?

Pheromone parties are basically smell-based soirees for singles. Partygoers would take their sweaty T-shirts to the gatherings, where other singles would sniff them out in search of the perfect mate. Think it stinks? We found it a bit bizarre, too.

Single and ready to online mingle? If writing isn't your forte, this new trend could be helpful.

"Ghost daters" assume the online identities of their clients—penning profiles, writing emails, and sometimes even engaging in online conversations with potential partners.  It may not be supernatural, but it's still somewhat spooky.

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Layovers are a pain, but if you're single a new trend might offer some relief.

Something called "airport dating" recently saw a surge. Its website meetattheairport.com has reached 20,000 members worldwide. The idea is pretty simple—a stranded passenger looking for love is hooked up with a fellow traveler who happens to be at the same airport at the same time. Founder Steve Pasternack told MSN: "The airport is probably one of the safest public places to meet someone new.  Where else can you meet someone that was required to show several forms of identification and then go through a full body search?"

In 2012, city-dwelling singles flocked to the 'burbs in search of love. Dubbed "reverse commuting," the trend was especially prevalent in New York City, where women took the train all the way to Connecticut and New Jersey to find available men.  But why flee the big city for romance? As one woman told the New York Post: "In Connecticut, they’re just very normal, very sweet, very unassuming." As opposed to New York men, "they don’t have game. They’re steak-and-potatoes American."

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When it comes to playing the field, some of us aren't terribly gifted. If you find dating daunting, perhaps you should consider taking lessons.  Paula Rosdol is a dating expert who founded the "School of Love," a service that offers lessons in Courtship 101. "You’ll also receive supporting materials, recommended readings, and a summary report of recommendations," the school's website reads. Hey, at least the homework is fun.

Paula even offered MSN some of her love lessons, tuition-free.

Ukrainian artist Taras Polataiko decided to play matchmaker. He created an art exhibit that consisted of beautiful women sleeping. Oddly enough, men were free to visit the exhibit and kiss any one of the women. But there was a catch—they had to sign a contract that read, "If I kiss the Beauty and she opens her eyes, I agree to marry her."

But it was actually a woman who eventually woke one of the Beauties from her slumber. Ukraine doesn't allow same-sex marriage, however, so the contract was null.

Dating site iDreamofU.com allows users to build their dream guy or gal from the ground up—customizing everything from facial hair to personality. 

After you've put together your perfect partner, the site brags that it will "bring your dreams to life" by connecting you with singles who most closely match your creation. If Victor Frankenstein were single, he'd be all over this.

Speed dating is nothing new, but dating organizations have been pretty bold with their stipulations. For example, one New York City-based company held an event for skinny people only, boasting that they were "checking labels at the door."

The event description read: "We all have relationship 'deal-breakers,' and that does not make us shallow; we're just single New Yorkers that know what we want and are attracted to."

Lonely hearts have the option of renting a significant other. GirlfriendHire.com offers a "girlfriend-for-pay" service, in which available women are willing to perform "girlfriend-like services" for a small fee. Desperate men fork over five bucks for their requests, which has included everything from "be my fake girlfriend for 6 months on Facebook" to "break up with me over text message."

Similarly, Ian Zelesko, a single guy in Manhattan, offers his own boyfriend services: Rent-A-Get. His services included changing light bulbs, putting up curtains and fixing flat tires

The Apocalypse was postponed, but before they got the memo, some singles were desperately seeking a partner for the end of the world. In 2012, doomsday dating site Survivalistsingles.com quadrupled in members.

Dedicated to "preppers," "survivalists" and "doomsdayers," the site's slogan is: "Find love for less than the price of a box of bullets."