What are pheromones? Pheromones are odorous substances that are released on the skin of mammals (including humans), that can affect social and sexual behavior of other animals from the same species.

They have been an interesting topic of debate among scientists and skeptics for some time now, and it is still not entirely conclusive.

They often conjure up serious questions about the existence of such things, and whether it is a real or imagined phenomena.

In this article, I will cover the main bases of current research on the topic, from a scientific point of view, as well as speculative conclusions as an enthusiast of several years.

Speculative conclusions are made from what I can gather about them from research, as well as testing individual products & molecules and observing their effects.

Here’s just a brief summary of what I’ll be covering:

What are pheromones? (Brief History)
How Pheromones Work
Hormones and the Edocrine System
The Vomeronasal Organ (VNO)
Different Types Of Pheromones
Studies, Articles, & Journals on Pheromones
How Pheromones Affect Behavior
Pheromone Signals: What Are They Saying About You?
The Influence Of Pheromones On Attraction
How Pheromone Colognes Work
FAQ’s About Pheromones

So let’s get started.

What are pheromones?

Pheromones are odorous substances that are understood to be “chemical messengers”. They are present in animals (including humans), and are detected by an organ called the vomeronasal organ (VNO, or Jacobson’s Organ). The vomeronasal organ is connected to the limbic system of the brain, which is also known as the “seat of emotions” (which can influence social and sexual behavior in animals of the same species).

The word “pheromone” comes from the Greek word “pherein” (which means “to carry” or “to bear”), and “mone” comes from the word “hormone” (or “hormon”, or “to excite”).

The term “pheromone” was first coined by Peter Karlson and Martin Lüscher in 1959. The word was made to give a name to the chemicals animals and insects use to communicate within their species.

Who discovered human pheromones? The most likely person to discover human pheromones is a scientist named Alex Comfort. Dr. Winnifred Cutler did NOT discover them, and attempts to take credit for much earlier research on this phenomena.

Common misspellings: Pheramones, pharamones, phermones, feremones, feramones, faramones, pharemones. In Spanish, “pheromone” translates to “feramona”.

Pheromones are also known as “ectohormones”, because they are hormones, but act outside the body. Although they were originally discovered by studying animals, it is only in recent decades that research has come to light on how they work in humans (and a lot of research is still highly debated – which will be examined below).

In this article, I will give you resources to studies, research, and also critical studies from scientists that remain skeptical of whether they exist in humans, and whether they work.

But first, to truly understand what they are, we must also understand what a “hormone” is.

What are hormones? Hormones are a major part of what makes us function as humans, and what drives our social, sexual, and instinctive behavior.

Hormones are created created by various “glands” in the body, which is controlled by the endocrine system.

Here is a quick overview of the major glands that are controlled by the endocrine system:

Pineal Gland – produces melatonin, which is important for sleep cycles.

Hypothalamus – produces hormones that regulate body temperature, appetite and weight, mood, sex drive, sleep, and thirst.

Pituitary Gland – the “master control gland” makes hormones that control growth, reproduction, lactation, and the activity of other glands.

Thyroid – produces hormones that control the rate at which the body burns calories and how fast the heart beats.

Parathyroid – controls the amount of calcium in our bones and blood.

Thymus – active until puberty, produces cells crucial to the immune system that protect the body from threats such as viruses and infections.

Adrenal Glands – produce androgens and cortisol; gives your body odor and pubic hair, helps in how we respond to stress; regulates blood pressure and more.

Pancreas – produces insulin, glucagon and other hormones but primarily responsible for controlling blood sugar levels.

Ovaries – female reproductive glands that produce eggs and sex hormones – including estrogen, testosterone and progesterone – which are vital to reproductive organ development, breast development, bone health, pregnancy, and fertility.

Testes – male reproductive glands produce sperm and secretes testosterone.

(Source)

Hormones influence our behavior – which is often why an “imbalance” of certain hormones can cause emotional, physical or social issues in humans.

Take for example, testosterone. This is produced primarily by men – however, an overabundance of this hormone can result in acne, severe mood changes, and strong muscle growth (this is why steroid users can experience something called “roid-rage”).

However, when it comes to pheromones, they work a little bit differently to a hormone.

Pheromones are hormones, but are excreted by animals on skin, hair, and saliva (sweat and bodily fluids). For humans, they are found on our skin and are excreted through our pores (and most abundantly in the armpits, or the axillary region).

From there, they can become airborne, and be detected by other humans.

However, there is still a lot of debate about the functioning of the “vomeronasal organ”, which is the core of disagreement about the existence of human pheromones.

The debate stems from the human version of the VNO, appearing vastly different from those found in other mammals, as well as non-mammalian species. It also appears that the structure of the VNO (if it functions), is used only intermittently (as an “accessory” to the main olfactory system, which picks up scent).

One other reason that scientists continue to ask “what are pheromones?”, is that the VNO also seems to have no nerves connected to it.

This is why it is difficult to conclusively say whether it is due to actually being picked up by the VNO – OR, whether it is another mechanism responsible for the effects that are noted when exposing subjects to them.

Here are studies which attempt to explain, as well as prove/disprove the vomeronasal organ (VNO):

Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: Critical Analysis
How Animals Communicate Via Pheromones
Structure and Function of the Vomeronasal Organ
VNO Is Not Involved In Perception of Endogenous Odors
Pheromones and other Chemical Communication in Animals
The Vomeronasal Cavity In Adult Humans

This particular area of science is still relatively new, and is not well understood just yet – there are a lot of factors to consider.

However, what we do know is that they are a part of what makes us human, and it also proves that we’re more tied to the animal kingdom than we normally care to think about.

Sure we drive cars, wear nice clothes, and live by a completely different set of rules in the modern world.

But at the core of it, we are still driven by our instincts.

Our drives to survive, reproduce, and carry our genes to the next generation.

Part of our ancient programming likely involves pheromones – from hunting prey, choosing suitable mates, detecting scents of animals, and the “6th sense” we have for survival.

There are several different categories that are used by various insects and animals (primates, as well as non-primate mammals).

These are relatively established for insects and animals to describe the behavior other animals have when exposed to their specific chemo-signals (of the same species).

Aggregation
Alarm
Epideictic
Territorial
Trail

What are pheromones purpose in human communication? The main (and most likely types) fall under 4 categories.

Primer. This type seems to affect the endocrine/neuroendocrine system (onset of puberty, menstrual synchrony, suspected to affect the release of luteninizing hormone and affect testosterone levels). Mens axillary secretions were also shown to influence women’s menstruation cycles, suggesting that they improved regularity.

Releaser. This type seems to affect behavior of other humans, is strongly suspected to have the most to do with sexual attraction. It was originally coined this by Karlson and Lüscher in 1959 to describe male moths attraction to a certain scent (isolated from female moths).

Signal/Signaler. This type seems to convey “information” about a human to other humans. It is suspected that we all have an individual “odorprint”, to our unique genetic makeup. Some potential “information” these pheromones could convey are about your diet, environment, health/disease, gender, sexual orientation, virility/fertility etc. It is strongly suspected that this can identify compatible sexual or romantic partners.

Modulator. This type seems to influence moods or emotions. This was introduced in the year 200 by McClintock’s laboratory, as a result of research into why our moods can in fact change our body odor. A study was done exposing groups of people to both anxiety-inducing, as well as comedic/relaxed parts of a movie, and more often than not, people were able to differentiate between the scents (link to study).

The classification of specific pheromones produced by humans is still debatable, and could change in the future.

The main reason is because the mechanism of how the vomeronasal organ works is still being researched – particularly in regard to reception of these specific types of scent. Which is why there is also confusion about how to classify them as it pertains to the effects on humans.

What is established, is that there are 3 classes of putative human pheromones:

Axillary steroids. These are steroids that are released in sweat, and most abundantly in the axillary (the armpit) area. They are called axillary steroids because they are hormones and produced by the testes, ovaries, apocrine, & adrenal glands.They are also typically androstanes, androstenes, & androstadienes – which are derivatives of testosterone – an androgen, aka hormone (which is why many of the known pheromones often contain the “andro” prefix).
- Androstenol
- Androstenone
- Androstadienone
- Androstadienol
- Androsterone
- Note: There are other other substances which can have noticeable effects on humans, but are still yet to be studied by the scientific community. However, there is research that confirms that they do have pheromone-like effects from the enthusiast community and testing.

Vaginal aliphatic acids (copulins). These are various acids which have been known to create a chemical called “copulins”. Copulins are known to increase the attractiveness of women to men, as it has been observed to increase testosterone levels up to 150% higher than before exposure (the chemical releases in higher quantities during ovulation).

Stimulators of the VNO. Along with pheromones that stimulate that VNO, there is a special type of tissue called “epithelia” or “epithelial tissues which may also serve as a chemical sensory organ. Research is still limited on this particular cell as it relates to human sense of smell.

A lot of research has been presented on the VNO and its function. But the question remains: do pheromones work?

Yes, they work. This has been demonstrated by observing and researching how animals use various scents to communicate with eachother. However, the biggest reason for debating their existence is when it is specifically about “human pheromones”.

Unfortunately, recent scientific, peer reviewed research is fairly limited.

There is also a lot of information out there with commercial interests in mind, particularly with studies on how they affect humans.

While this doesn’t completely discredit research, it can make some of the claims very questionable.

Several known researchers in this field (with commercial interests) include:

James Vaughn Kohl (JV Kohl) – owner of LuvEssentials, Pheromones.com, Pheroplus.

Winnifred B. Cutler, PhD – owner of Athena Institute.

This means the research can be strongly biased to favor a certain outcome.

While the community has uncovered a number of molecules that work as pheromones, the science community lags behind.

Here are links to various studies, articles, and journals that are both for, and against the idea of human pheromones:

Articles, journals, and studies (PDF format)

Studies, journals, and articles (abstracts only)

Articles, journals, and studies (cited)

Note: Effects and studies of specific human pheromones, and other chemo-signals, scents, and odors that appear to affect humans is available here:
https://houseofpheromones.com/human-pheromone-effects-molecules/

Assuming the vomeronasal organ is functional, pheromones are capable of affecting our social and reproductive behaviors.

Considering that there is limited information on the functioning of the vomeronasal organ, and how exactly it perceives these special scents, this is still under investigation.

However, it should be noted that “odor” is still highly distinctive for every individual – and there is a strong correlation of partners choosing the most unique genetic system to produce the most healthy offspring.

“Previous studies in animals and humans show that genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) influence individual odours and that females often prefer odour of MHC-dissimilar males, perhaps to increase offspring heterozygosity or reduce inbreeding. ”

If you’ve ever seen a late night television ad, read the back of a shady magazine, or used a restroom in a nightclub, you may have heard about them and become skeptical.

You were probably promised that a few simple sprays of their product could turn you into an irresistible man or woman magnet, and effortlessly attract romantic/sexual partners.

Unfortunately, while the sales messages can be highly persuasive, this is not the way these types of specific pheromone scents work.

By reading this article, I hope I have answered your questions about “what are pheromones” by explaining the science in layman’s terms and simplifying scientific research.

Often times, the effects are grossly exaggerated, even though the research is sound.

Based on that, here are suspected and known pieces of information they can signal about you to others:

Your emotional state (proven earlier through the study)

Genetic information (attracting compatible partners)

Overall health (sickness affects pheromone production)

Whether you’re male or female

Sexual orientation (homosexual men respond to male pheromones as women do)

Sociability (androstenol is known for social effects)

Age, maturity level, trustworthiness (Possibly indicated through higher androsterone)

Sexual assertiveness/aggressiveness (higher testosterone = more androstEnone)

Your “status” in the pecking order (leader/follower)

A unique combination of pheromones to create a unique “scent signature”, or “odorprint”. This also means you may be compatible with very specific people. You may find people who you normally wouldn’t find attractive, more attractive than usual if your genes or “chemistry” is highly compatible with a certain someone (see above about how the major histocompability index influences attraction between partners).

This list is made up of some of the most obvious, as well as “known” effects that have been researched (as a community, as well as the scientific community).

Remember, scientists are still catching up to what many enthusiasts have already figured out.

As an example, the main pheromones that have been put “under the microscope” in a scientific setting, are androstenone, androstenol, androstadienone, and androsterone.

However, in the effect summary, there are over 20 unique molecules that have been tested and have known effects on people.

And there are more being added on a regular basis (not to mention, there are also unnamed putatives that are blind tested at PheromoneXS.

Pheromone technology has advanced far beyond those 4 early molecules, although they are a staple ingredient in most formulas today.

With such a wide variety of unique, individual molecules to choose from, a handful of companies have advanced to create unbelievably powerful formulas.

… Not just for attraction, but also to create social effects, and even giving you the perception of “higher status” or respectability among others.

How much influence do pheromones have on attraction?

Pheromones are a strong link in the very real “chemistry” between people, and is a major part of the attraction puzzle.

They are often the driving force behind the most primitive forms of attraction.

However, that doesn’t mean pheromones and attraction are exclusive.

There are many factors that go into deciding how men and women choose their partners for sexual and romantic relationships.

Another case in point. When women are ovulating, they are releasing a chemical called “copulins” which can increase testosterone levels in men by about 150%.

Because of some women’s pheromones, men can often become very strongly attracted to a woman, even though she may not be what they are looking for looks wise or in personality.

While looks are important for a majority of men, it is not uncommon to have high levels of attraction for someone who is not your physical ideal.

This can be because their specific scent signature is highly compatible with your own.

Do pheromone colognes and perfumes work?

Yes. Earlier, we discovered that they are like “chemical messengers”.

They can project or convey information about you to other humans, atleast on a primal, instinctual, or subconscious level (just as animals use their sense of smell for many purposes).

With that being said, there has been little research on what specific kinds of information they are giving off to other people.

This is because it is very difficult to examine on humans, due to its subjective nature.

There is no way to “measure” which specific pheromone does what on an emotional or subconscious level, unless it is an obvious physiological change (such as an increase in cortisol, skin temperature, release of neurotransmitters or hormones etc).

However, several studies I cited earlier shows that our body odor can change with our health, environment, fitness level, and specific genetics – which means we all have unique scent signatures (or odorprints).

Pheromone colognes and perfumes can “modify” your natural “scent signature”, and give you the appearance of being more attractive, sociable, popular, or even more “alpha” than you actually are (there’s a more comprehensive list of effects below).

But pheromones (particularly synthetic colognes and perfumes) aren’t JUST about attracting men or women.

There are literally dozens of outstanding pheromone colognes on the market that can enhance your dating life, but also significantly improve your professional and life too.

Here are just a few different ways they can help in your every day life.

Boost your social status and get you more respect from friends, family, acquaintances and more.

Make people feel a sense of “awe” in your presence

Dramatically improve your social skills

Provide an aura of trust, respect, and admiration

Make you more “charming” to men and women, which will get people to want to befriend you

Make women extremely clingy towards you, and crave your presence

HUGE indicators of interest (you’ll notice a LOT more touching, flirting, and conversation as women will be extremely intrigued by you)

Maximize the positive personality traits you have, while making negative ones less noticeable

Completely change someones “first impression” of you (great for getting out of friendzone, or getting an ex back)

Create woman stalkers who will want to date you (not sure if you’d want this, but it’s awesome having women chase me for a change).

And much more…

What are pheromones role in human communication and sexuality? That covers the “scientific” part, as well as speculative research about what we know so far.

Yes, it’s still early in terms of having solid, scientific, peer reviewed research behind it.

But the exciting part is that we are on the forefront of this new technology, and who know where we might be in just a few years.

It’s also fascinating because we can actually play a part in this by contributing research, and figuring out how they work on other people.

There’s still so much to learn, and so many unanswered questions.

Hopefully in the near future, we can have groundbreaking new discoveries happening on a much more regular basis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about pheromones

Why should I buy pheromones?

As I explained earlier, yes, we do produce our own unique, natural scent signatures.

And what do we do with it?

We wash them off, and spray ourselves with deodorant to cover up those odors, or slather aftershave, and wear moisturizers, and more…

Our society is obsessed with cleanliness (which is great), but it also detracts from our human experiences.

Using synthetic products gives us our edge back when it comes to attracting partners, and being noticed by other people.

Synthetic colognes and perfumes with are also created to a very high standard.

They are far more pure than natural pheromones, and don’t have the bacteria that natural “odor” has.

What are pheromones made of?

The majority of human pheromones are synthetic variations of androstenes, androstanes, and androstadienes (which are all derivatives of the hormone testosterone).

These substances are readily available from supplement companies – in fact, molecules available in most pheromone formulas are easily found through distributors like Steraloids.

… Being synthetic, also has the effect of making you EXTREMELY noticeable to other people.

While they won’t be able to tell what’s different about you, you will know they are being affected in subtle ways.

Whatever your goals are – whether it’s to attract a certain partner, get ahead socially, or professional, they can give you the upper hand in all your interactions.

What do pheromones smell like?

Pheromones do have their own unique smell. As I mentioned earlier, what gives them their scent, is that they are natural odors that are excreted from your pores. That’s why they smell of “sweat”.

They are essentially body odors, and some are more pleasant than others. However, even when we are discussing synthetic pheromones that are created in laboratories, they have distinct odor (there are no “sweat shops” where sweat is collected and turned into products!).

Because of their chemical makeup, even synthetic pheromones have the odor of “sweat” – and some may smell better or worse than others.

For example, “androstenone” is commonly a very strong, noticeable smell, whereas “alpha androstenol” is barely detectable and sometimes even pleasant.

Luckily though, we have the option of choosing our products to be “scented” when they arrive so you don’t smell like B.O. when you spray yourself. You can also choose to get them unscented if you prefer to use your own cologne to cover up the smell.

What are the best pheromones for men?

The best pheromones for men are created by quality vendors such as:

Liquid Alchemy Labs
PheromoneXS
Hax Pheromones
Pheromone Treasures
True Pheromones (A basic, but effective product line)

There are also a lot of products to choose from depending on your requirements. However, you can get a list of some of the top pheromones available here (they have been hand picked and tested thoroughly out of over 50 products).

How do pheromones work on humans?

At the core of it, humans have something called a Vomeronasal Organ (VNO) which is responsible for being able to influence the behavior of other humans, when pheromones or other smells are detected.

Scientists still argue over whether it’s still a functional part of the human anatomy and there are both scientists for and against it.

What we can however agree on though, is that while it may not show up as a functioning organ, that pheromones do in fact produce behavioral and emotional changes, and even influence the physiology of those around us.

Take for example the effects of a pheromone called “androstadienone“.

Below is a small transcript from a reputable science magazine, Scientific American:

“The researchers measured physiological vital signs like body temperature, skin conductance, ear pulse, blood pressure, respiratory function and cardiac rate throughout the experiment. They also measured mood and sexual arousal by checking the levels of cortisol, a hormone that has been associated with arousal and mood, in saliva samples.

The results: smelling the androstadienone increased positive mood, total physiological arousal and sexual arousal, which grew with longer exposure.” [link]

Is using pheromones ethical?

Pheromones are powerful tools that can help you create the social and professional outcomes that you want. However, what they can’t do is force people to do things they do not want to do.

For example, I’ve used them to help me become more persuasive in my dealings with women, and have turned rejections, into getting those same women to chase me instead.

However, I also use a lot of social skills to get the outcomes that I want. I change the perception of myself not just with pheromones, but with real life, tangible progress, and personality traits…

The pheromones simply allowed me to pry open the “window of opportunity” once again where they would normally be shut off to me. For example, this article on “love pheromones” was about how they can help you be seen in a “romantic” kind of way. What makes it interesting, is that it’s possible even if women didn’t feel that way about you before.

It allows you present yourself in a more favorable light, so people are more attracted to you – and may even get the attention of women who weren’t interested before. It simply allowed them to perceive you differently, and perhaps in a more romantic or respectable way.

Do I really need additional pheromones?

As you can probably tell by now, scent plays a big role in our daily lives. Everything about how we interact with eachother, how women/men perceive you, how much they respect you, how much attraction they have towards you can be substantially improved by using the right pheromones.

Unfortunately, modern day life dictates a certain level of cleanliness (which is good)… but also interferes with our natural human rights to use our pheromones to attract partners, friends, and miss out on other opportunities.

For this reason, using synthetic formulations is not only going to give you a “leg up” in every area of your life, it will also give you an edge most people simply don’t have… or even know about. Synthetic colognes and perfumes also have the benefit of being more “pure” than natural pheromones – free of bacteria and other unpleasant things present in “natural” odors.

How do I know if the pheromones are working?

When I first started using pheromones, I thought it was complete snake oil. I wasn’t a very observant person, but after giving it a shot anyway I noticed people acting a little bit strange around me.

I was wearing a “respect” type product (A314 by Androtics Direct), but I was young, and it was very serious. People would call me “sir” even though that never happened before, people would go out of their way to help me, and even bend over backwards to make me happy.

Even my friends were acting more serious around me, and I didn’t really know why… that is, until I realized I still had this product on me. A few drops and everyone would run for cover.

At first, I didn’t really believe it. So I tried it several times, until the difference was literally night and day when I wore it and when I didn’t. Personally, I don’t like that type of respect – but it DID give me a powerful insight into the world of pheromone products.

The moral of the story is, give a product a fair chance when you buy them – you might not notice anything right away, and sometimes it’ll be clear as day depending on the product.

You will notice changes in peoples behavior towards you and around you, and you will develop a keen eye for detail as you become more experienced using pheromones.

Are pheromones a scam?

There are a lot of scammy products out there, including on Ebay, Amazon, and other marketplaces online (as well as fake review websites). These will often write about a product that is clearly made up in order to try to get you to buy the product.

Some of the most popular scams include products such as Pherazone, Pheromone Advantage (Dr Amend), Nexus Pheromones, PherX, PheroMax, Pherlure and others which make highly exaggerated claims about their products.

House Of Pheromones is geared towards helping you make informed decisions… so if you find a product that I haven’t got on this site, chances are I’ve used it.

Simply drop a comment or email and I’ll be able to advise you.

I will also create a full “hit list” of DO NOT BUY products in the near future.

Read about how to avoid scams here.

Why did I get negative effects from my pheromone products?

This is a common problem, and one that is easily solved. Most of the time, it’s because you did not dose the product correctly, and may have applied too much at once.

When you apply too much at the same time, you won’t necessarily get better results.

They are like lenses or glasses – they’re good until you reach your ideal vision level, but any more and it becomes counter productive. Things get blurrier. That’s why it’s extremely important that you find your “sweet spot” so your products will work the most effectively.

If you apply too much, or apply a combination of products that throws off the balance you might experience some negative effects. Some of them include:

Ghosting, or being ignored. People will just ignore you or act very distant, like you don’t really know them even if you are friends. You may feel alienated and “left out” at a party or among friends, because they will act like you don’t even exist.

Intimidation from males and females. Sometimes intimidation is a known effect, and is quite common with attraction products — however, it can be steered in a positive way for attraction products. However, some males might perceive you as threatening and act “tougher” around you. Try to disarm them if you feel they may get physical with you.

Treating you childishly, or with low respect. This can be possible with some social products, as they may lower your social status and therefore the amount of respect you get.

Read about how to get maximum benefit from your products here.

Can I get my money back if the products don’t work for me?

YES! The vendors I recommend on this site not only create great products – they also use the products themselves, which only attests to their quality. They stand by their products – and if you’re not happy, can easily get a refund or replacement.

I believe the shortest “money back guarantee” time is 45 days (which is plenty of time to take it for a “test drive”.

And the longest a vendor has, is literally an UNLIMITED amount of time where you can use the product, and if it doesn’t work you can get your money back or exchange.

I know the vendors on friendly basis, and they are respectable, honest people. I stand by them 100%… so you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose by giving it a try.

Are you ready to use the magic of pheromones in your life too?

Hopefully, this has answered your question – “what are pheromones?”, and gone above and beyond what you were expecting. They are a part of what it means to be human… I often watch documentaries about animals who use scent to ward off prey and find food, and partners.

And it simply amazes me that humans are also doing this, just on a much more sophisticated level.

It’s a wonder of the world – an experience.

Thank you for reading.

– Phero Joe

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my reviews in the sidebar to your right – ALL of my vendors offer a 100% money back guarantee (I think the shortest time is 45 days – which is plenty to see if a product is right for you). And the longest is UNLIMITED. If you’re the slightest bit interested, I invite you to check a few products you might be interested in out, and give it a test drive. It might just change your life, as it has for me.

Author
Recent Posts

Phero Joe

Pheromone Researcher at House Of Pheromones

Hey, Phero Joe here. Quick backstory - I've been a pheromone enthusiast for over 8 years now - and have tested countless pheromone products... a lot of which are complete rubbish. That's why I created the House Of Pheromones so you can save time, money, and frustration and simply get quality products that work as promised. See more below for PROOF of my pheromone collection, experiences, and recommended reading.

Read more about House Of Pheromones here.