Pheromones
When I was trying to think of a topic for this column this time around, I reflected upon the issue theme of kindred spirits. Somehow in my crazy mind, this led to thoughts of friends, and then couples. Finally my mind wandered to how physical attraction occurs. I remembered reading several descriptions of pheromones, and I decided to research this smelly prospect. Something told me all along that there is more to attraction than Drakkar Noir or Clinique Happy when it comes to sniffing out a partner. But is there any hard science behind following one's nose to love?
First off, what are pheromones? I vaguely remembered claims that using products containing them can increase attractiveness to the opposite sex and that one could buy perfumes containing them. I also believed that they had fist been discovered in mammals other than humans. However, when trying to find information on the internet, I found more sites that told me what pheromone-laden products could do for me than informational articles. Pheromones are generally described as small organic molecules, secreted by animals, that are recepted by other members of the same species through their sense of smell. In layman's terms, they are akin to hormones that act upon others, rather than within one individual. Two main types of pheromones are Androstenone (male pheromones) and Copulins (female pheromones).
The existence of pheromones in animals has been studied since the 1970s and is quite well documented. The research of pheromones in humans has a stinky beginning in studies of armpits. In 1986, an endocrinologist, Dr. Winifred Cutler, discovered the existence of pheromones in human underarm regions. Human pheromones are much more individualized than those in animals, and also much trickier to detect. I don't know about you, but I count that as a good thing. I can just imagine what smells we would emit and be exposed to if human pheromones were more like our animal cousins'. Pheromones are also thought to be the cause of the menstrual synchronization that often occurs among groups of women. This has been known to occur among sisters and teammates.
It is hard to see past the commercialization and peddling of pheromone-laced perfumes to get to the science of scents. Research is currently underway to pinpoint how humans receive pheromones and also further document their effects on sexual attraction. For the time being, if you'd like to give your naturally produced pheromones a boost with some commercially available products, they are only a web search and a click away.