Human Pheromones

Do human pheromones exist?

Anne, Sharon and Shiva

According to an article printed in the Seattle Times, the Athena Institute for Women's Wellness in Haverford, Pennsylvania has patented a chemical copy of "the human pheromone," synthesized from a chemical found in sweat. The journalist states, "Like all animal pheromones, [the pheromone] is believed to stimulate response to the opposite sex." Thirty-eight men participated in the company's study testing the chemical. Seventeen used an aftershave to which a drop of the chemical was added, and twenty-one used untreated aftershave. The men were asked to document all sexual activities for the duration of the experiment. Results indiated that all of the "pheromone" users "turned out to be busier, sexually," than the twenty-one controls. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that, "Human pheromones caused a statistically significant and distinct increase in those romantic behaviors in which a woman plays a major role . . . Thus, human pheromones affect the sexual attractiveness of men to women." If you're interested, you can pick up a vial for a mere $99.50 by mail order. (The State, 1995)

With the expectation that 5-a-androst-16en-3a-on, the main component of male body odor, might be a human male pheromone, an additional study rated the responses of 289 women to the chemical's odor. The women's responses to the quality of the odor differed, depending on the stage of their menstrual cycle. During ovulation, women rated the odor as neither attractive nor unattractive. However, during other phases of their menstrual cycles, women rated the scent as uanttractive. An evolutionary consequence might be the facilitation of female choice during ovulation (Grammer, 1993). Additionally, the Results of the 1986 National Geographic Smell Survey indicate that women were more sensitive to the smell of androstenone than were men.

References

Gilbert, A. N. and C. J. Wysocki. 1987. The Smell Survey Results. National Geographic. October. pp. 514-525

Grammer, K. 1993. 5-a-androst-16en-3a-on: A male pheromone? A brief report. Ethology and Sociobiology. 14(3):201-207.

"Nothing attracts the opposite sex like the odor of perspiration." The State. October 15, 1995.

Editors note... A brief discussion regarding human pheromone receptors can be read in...
Dulac, C. and R. Axel (1995) A novel family of genes encoding putative pheromone receptors in mammals. Cell 83, 195-206.

also...
Wright, K. (1994) The Sniff of Legend. Discover, August, 1994. . "Discusses the discovery of human pheromones and a sixth sense organ that detects them."

Macdonald, D & R Brown, (1985) The smell of success. New Scientist May, 1985. "Describes the amazing diversity of mammalian pheromones."