Do pheromones actually attract a person to someone? How do they work? What are they?

Question

Sangita93 · Accepted Answer

Yes - They Do. Pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to impact the behavior of the receiving individuals. They are classified as alarm pheromones, food trail pheromones, sex pheromones, and many others that affect behavior or physiology. In animals, sex pheromones indicate the availability of the female for breeding. Male animals may also emit pheromones that convey information about their species and genotype. Mice can distinguish close relatives from more distantly related individuals on the basis of scent signals, which enable them to avoid mating with close relatives and minimize deleterious inbreeding. While humans are highly dependent upon visual cues, when in close proximity smells also play a role in socio-sexual behaviors. Basically, pheromones are subconscious sex signals. A specialized structure located inside the nose called the VNO (Vomeronasal Organ) detects these invisible airborne and odorless pheromone molecules that may occur through sweat or urine. The VNO organ exists in about 80% of humans. There are plenty of inexpensive natural scents that have a demonstrated positive effect on sexual attraction. Auxiliary steroid produced by the testes, ovaries, apocrine glands, and adrenal glands are not biologically active until puberty when sex steroids influence their activity. Several auxiliary steroids like drostadienol, androstadienone, androstenol, androstenone, and androsterone are potential human pheromones. Androstenol is the putative female pheromone. Androstenone is secreted only by males as an attractant for women, and it is positive effector for their mood. It seems to have different effects on women, depending on where a female is in her menstrual cycle, with the highest sensitivity to it during ovulation. Androstadienone seems to affect the limbic system and causes a positive reaction in women, improving mood and increase attention to emotional information causing the individual to feel more focused. Six types of aliphatic acids are found in the vaginal fluids are known as "copulins", which increase in quantity before ovulation, may be used for reasons other than sexual communication. Although there are disputes about the mechanisms by which pheromones function, but there are enough evidences that pheromones do affect humans.

Hurlyburly · Accepted Answer

I made the strange expirience once that a friend of mine I'm usually not attracted to suddenly seemed way more attractive just because he was standing right next to me. It wasn't even me alone but me and my bestfriend and both of us felt the same at this moment. As soon as he walked away the "magic" stopped. The only possible explanation I'd have for this would be that he was near enough to us that we could subconsciously notice his pheromones.

Pocahontas2000 · Accepted Answer

I've had my nose broken twice... I'm in trouble, what If I pass by him and can't smell? :D

Dargil · Accepted Answer

Safe answer from a 27 year old to a 15 year old.
Pheromones are sexual scent signals. Other creatures like cats and dogs have and can smell them consciously, but we can't because we have weaker senses of smell. We do sense them, however. One thing I have noticed is when I am in the company of a reasonably attractive girl who has been vigorously exercising and is soaked with perspiration (not pungent because it is fresh) I do feel a greater attraction to her than I would if the same girl, wearing the same clothes was around me dry before she worked out. It's understood that pheromones are in perspiration and I have probably unconsciously "smelled" them and they attracted me.

MattMcCoy · Accepted Answer

Yes they do and they don't it's hard to discribe. Actual pheromones are in your sweat glands. You know how dogs in heat can smell each other., I know it's gross, but we do too without really realizing it. Some people call cologne or perfume pheromones in that the right one when someone walks by CA definitely work but they aren't actual pheromones. Just expensive water to sell lol. I have a biomedical background and I didn't realize it but I tried to see if I was attracted by smell and it does work say if you are hugging someone you are dating or you can smell them on your pillow etc.

cutebritishguy · Answer

Totally. They are natures way of enabling humans to pay attention to the opposite sex. Like beacons, they signal to the other sex and attract them to want to mate with you. It's all very primal.