The Scent of Attraction: How do Pheromones Work?

You have probably heard of pheromones and possibly seen the advertisements for them in magazines or online but do you know what they really are or how they work?

Pheromone research has been extensive in the animal kingdom. Animal and insect pheromones are even used in pest control products to lure insects into traps or to repel other insects or animals from coming into a certain territory. The concept of human pheromones has been debated and researched for years. Dr. Winifred Cutler, a biologist and behavioral endocrinologist is one of the leading researchers on human pheromones. She has linked pheromones to effects on women's menstrual cycles and fertility. She did a study using a commercial pheromone called Athena, which she developed. Seventy Four percent of those studied experienced increases in hugging, kissing, and sexual intercourse.

So how do pheromones work? Scientists have found that pheromones are detected through the Vomeronasal Organ in the nose. Scientists have discovered that the nasal receptors mainly found near the entrance of the nose had the strongest reaction to air containing pheromones; this is where the vomeronasal organ is located. The pheromones travel through the nose and stimulate the hypothalamus in the cortex of the brain. This is the area of the brain that produces emotion and emotional response. Pheromones are subconsciously detected and illicit an internal sexual response. The pheromones send a signal to the hypothalamus to illicit emotions such as attraction, sexual desire, and arousal. Men secrete the pheromone Androstenone to attract women and women secrete Androstenol to attract men. Though in today's super clean and hygienic society we often wash away all of our natural scent. In the animal world pheromones still dictate sexual behavior and response. Humans have lost much of that, though the new pheromone products on the market are supposed to help.