Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Could a chemical actually improve your sex life? Well, if this study from San Francisco State University researchers is to be believed it can. According to their work, men are more attracted to women wearing pheromones resulting in more dates, kisses, cuddles and even sex.
What are pheromones
Pheromones are a type of compound that allows animals to chemically communicate with each other. They are versatile chemicals that help ants figure out how to get home, that let dogs mark their territory and that let mammals know when to mate. The word pheromone comes from the Greek words pherin, to transfer, and hormon, to excite. These chemicals are similar to hormones but instead of working within the body, they work between bodies.
How do pheromones work?
The chemical communication of pheromones is simple. One animal (or human) releases the pheromone and another senses it. In essence, the behavior of the sensing animal is controlled by the pheromone releaser. In mammals, pheromones are detected by an organ called vomeronasal organ (VMO) which is located somewhere in the head between the nose and mouth. Pheromones are a bit like odor molecules but they have a much different effect.
So do pheromones really work?
Well, if pheromones really worked it would mean that controlling the behavior of people would be simple. If you wanted someone to fall in love with you, you could simply spray some pheromones whenever they’re around. Fortunately, human behavior is a bit more complicated than that.
It is still debated among scientists whether pheromones have an effect or not. These researchers demonstrated that women actually saw an increase in sociosexual activity when wearing perfume that contained pheromones. The impressive part of this research was that it was compared to a placebo control. But one study (of 36 women) isn’t enough to substantiate these incredible claims.
Other researchers have looked at all the human pheromone data and the results are inconclusive. Yes, pheromones are real. Yes, they have some physiological effect (such as synchronizing women’s menstrual cycles). But how much pheromones change behavior is still unclear.
If it weren’t Valentine’s Day, I’d be more skeptical on this one, but it is and I really want to believe!
We’re not saying these products will work. Still, this might just be the thing that helps make this a Valentine’s Day to remember.







{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I can assure you they do NOT work. I’ve tried and men still treated me badly or completely ignored me in favor of skinny girls. Even the skinny girls with poor hygiene and bad attitudes.
So pheromones do not work.
I think pheromones do work- it works for other animals, doesnt it? But I dont think the perfume would work as well. Your actual, real pheromones would probably have better results.
It’s all about MHC complexes…
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/6/l_016_08.html
Think compatibility between two given individuals rather than one pheromone to attract them all…
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