Pheromones and Sexuality

Smells act very subtly on the human mind. A particular aroma can move us … conjuring up vivid memories of fond days gone by, while a long forgotten scent can instantly bring back meaningful emotions – good or bad. But the impact of smell doesn’t always register on the conscious level, and when it comes to chemicals known as pheromones, the jury is still out on the human body’s ability to detect their alluring and deeply primal appeal.

Aside from body odor and fragrance application, is there something else where men and women “sense” chemical communiqués without actually being able to smell anything at all? And more importantly, can products laced with a synthetic pheromones act as a sexual magnet, increasing one’s attractiveness to the opposite sex? The subject gives sexual ‘chemistry’ an entirely new meaning…

What are pheromones?

Pheromones are airborne chemicals that are excreted by a variety of species including plants, vertebrates, insects, and humans - but they may, or may not, be smelled at all. They leave the body via sweat and oils and are able to affect the behavior and physiology of other members of the same species. Any pheromones that do drift into a receiver’s nasal passages will instantly communicate a chemical message and evoke any number of conscious and sub-conscious reactions.

What do pheromones do?

Pheromones can cause an instinctual, almost automatic, response that scientists label a "releaser" effect. The response is well-studied in animals, but has never been definitively observed in humans. There are a number of documented uses of pheromones among insects, reptiles and mammals, including use in defense against predators, marking territory, and laying down a trail for other members of the group to locate a found food source.

In terms of reproduction, pheromones act a sexual attractant, specifically signaling the perfumer’s readiness to engage in the mating process. The power of these subliminal messengers is absolutely astounding. In species like moths and butterflies, males will fly tens of miles to reach a female in such a state; conversely, a male rhesus monkey will ignore a female in heat if he cannot detect the pheromones indicating her fertility. Examples like these lead to an interesting question: if the birds and the bees are able to do it, can humans use pheromones to signal the same kind of subconscious drives?

Pheromones in humans

Do humans have the same ability as animals to sense these scents of desire? Researchers are still trying to uncover the compelling mystery behind the effects of pheromones and continue to perform painstaking genetic research to unlock the code which links pheromones to the innermost workings of our minds.

Pheromones aren’t normally detected by the olfactory (sense of smell) system, but by a separate structure known as the vomero-nasal organ (VNO) which conveys messages to the higher cortical regions of the brain. This body part is connected to a part of the olfactory bulb that is independent from the main olfactory system. It is located just above the roof of the mouth and has evolved to detect large molecules and molecules that are dissolved in liquid, which is why licking various body parts - as dogs do when they great each other - is an important way for pheromones to be received. As far as humans are concerned, the consensus is that the ability to sniff out these chemical clues did once exist, but has steadily declined with evolution; human embryos have been found to have a VNO organ, but after birth this tissue disappears - probably as a result of atrophy (lack of use).

Can pheromones increase sexual attractiveness?

Whether or not sex pheromones are detectable by the human nose may be still in dispute, but it’s safe to assume that the possibility of an irresistible odor print is enough incentive to keep exploring. Scientists are still trying to work out exactly how scents influence sexual attraction, but it’s safe to say that the impact of sex scents definitely differs among species. And once the genes for such receptors are identified definitively, it should be relatively easy to find out whether equivalent genes exist in humans and determine how such genes might function in the body.

On the flip side, many other substances have strong effects on humans, leading scientists to believe that pheromones aren’t the only factors affecting the behavior and biochemistry of others. For example, a number of chemical components found in male sweat have the ability to change the balance of Cortisol in females, leading women to feel relaxed in the presence of her man’s fragrance and enjoy other benefits like a more regulated menstrual cycle. However, the pheromones involved in claims promising sexual irresistibility have not been precisely identified, and it is not yet clear whether such chemical messengers affect the VNO, the main olfactory system, or both.

Pheromones for sale

The controversy over pheromones’ true effect on sexual attraction doesn’t stop marketers from capitalizing on curious buyers who are willing to shell out big money for a chance to capitalize on the ultimate scent of desire. Perfumes which can cost upwards of $100 for a sixth of an ounce, laced with synthetic pheromones (promising to generate a pheromone-like effect and enhance attraction), have already become available to the general public. But if you’re wondering what exactly they put in the pheromone formula - well, that’s a trade secret!

Final thought

Many businesses are trying to bottle the scent of sex, and the lure of being irresistibly attractive to the opposite sex is enough to make many people open their wallets in the hopes that the scientific studies prove to be true. But until researchers come up with more definitive evidence suggesting some truth behind the chemical allure of artificial pheromones, we suggest sticking to your toothbrush and (perhaps) natural pheronomes to attract your partner!