Scientists have been studying the link between pheromones and attraction for almost 100 years. The subject is one of great interest.
We watch romantic movies and listen to love songs but many people don’t understand how attraction works. How do you open the door and talk to someone new? How do you convince them that talking to you is worthwhile?
Pheromones in Nature
Pheromones are chemicals that mammals and insects produce that alter the behavior of other animals of the same species. They are different from hormones – which only affect the individual.
Animals use pheromones to indicate sexual arousal, mark territory, and warn other animals to back down.
If you’ve ever had a female cat or dog in heat, you’ve seen what lengths other cats and dogs will go to in order to gain access to your pet. It is an instinctual imperative to propagate the species. With animals, it is all based on chemical reaction.
The Human Condition
Humans – thankfully – are more dignified than that! You won’t be scaling walls or digging beneath fences for a tryst with someone you’re attracted to (hopefully) but perhaps you’d enjoy the opportunity to talk to him or her…and know that you have their complete attention.
The art of connecting to other people is becoming a lost skill in the modern world of social media. You may have thousands of “friends” yet find yourself unable to strike up a conversation with a man or woman you’re attracted to at a party.
The Science of Attraction
In the animal kingdom, pheromones are a well-known and well-documented phenomena. In the human realm, we’re still learning.
We know that pheromones are released through bodily fluids – especially sweat. The effect on the opposite sex is subtle, as the almost undetectable pheromone drifts through the air and is inhaled.
Scientists are not in full agreement regarding the human Vomeronasal Organ (VNO) which – in theory – detects the scent of attraction. Some believe we scent pheromones through our standard sense of smell and that our VNO is inactive.
Others feel we simply haven’t figured out the mechanics yet. Either way, the pheromone is “scented” and causes the other person to “hone in” on the person secreting the scent. 
How Pheromones Work
In order to understand pheromones and attraction, it is important to note that all pheromones are not the same. There are four separate and distinct types which cause a different reaction in the person who scents them.
Medical News Today published an article about human pheromones, which they broke down into four specific categories.
• Releaser pheromones– you see someone across a room and your physical and sexual reaction to them hits you hard and fast.
• Primer pheromones– take longer to manifest and influence hormone production, menstruation, puberty and the ability to get pregnant.
• Signaler pheromones– are “you” by scent. Some women can recognize their infants by scent due to these informational pheromones.
• Modulator pheromones– these involve sweat [which sounds gross but is pretty fascinating]. Animal females in studies became calm when the sweat of their male partners was placed beneath their noses. In humans, it causes feelings of well-being and relaxation.
More studies are being done in this field but initial results are incredibly interesting.
Advocates say that pheromones create a sense of personal attractiveness and relaxation that draws the opposite sex to you. Opponents insist it is all in the user’s head.
Perhaps the confidence-booster of believing in yourself as an attractive being is all an applied pheromone is – but there is no denying that it works.
Two separate studies – done by the University of Chicago and Bennett Research Lab in Australia – noted measurable improvements in male/female socio-sexual interactions.
Female Interactions with Men:
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• Dating more often
• Receiving more displays of affection
• Heavy petting more common
• Improved foreplay
• Higher frequency of sex
• Increase in post-coital affection
Male Interactions with Women
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• Better able to start conversation
• More confidence in conversation
• Receiving interest from the female
• Female more responsive
• Receipt of compliments
• Higher degree of flirtation
The cause and effect between pheromones and attraction may not mean you live your own real-life version of “The Notebook” but you may catch and hold someone’s attention long enough to talk about it.
