Pheromones 101

[ofonorow]

Spread that Loving Feeling with Fragrant Pheromones

Do you feel love in the air? Picture yourself lapping through a field of lilacs with a fluttering heart as you gaze upon the sexiest person alive. What is the fragrant formula of love? Can we seek and sniff out Mr. or Ms. Right? Imagine yourself sipping an espresso at a local cafe, reading the paper, minding your own business. Suddenly, a strapping young man or lovely seductress enters the room, and you are immediately struck with Cupid’s arrow. You not only sense a chemical attraction, you smell it! Cupid has just struck you with pheromones, the ‘smellprints’ that evoke the chemistry of attraction. The aroma of coffee fades as pheromones brew up the scent of passion. Such is the power of pheromones.

These intoxicating chemicals are given off by humans, animals, and plants. They serve to attract and stimulate others. Research shows that human pheromones may stir up a host of behaviors, ranging from mothers kissing their children to men being attracted to large-breasted women.

Raging hormone and sizzling pheromone levels peak around age 18 and then slowly decline through the rest of our lives. When we enter a room at age 40, our pheromone signal no longer excites others as it did when we were 18. When we gaze amorously at a young beauty, we tend to assume that our eyes incite the chemical amalgam that causes our hearts to flutter. But we may fail to consider how scents also activate our senses. As we age, our lack of appeal may be in large part due to our drop in pheromones. As a result, the most effective way to attract others, as we grow older and wiser, is to enhance our signals with supplemental pheromones, just as we take supplements of antioxidants to keep healthy and ward off disease (Kohl & Francoeur 1995, Cutler 1996, Pickart 2005).



ThE TWO TYpES OF phErOMONES

While pheromones produce less obvious reactions in humans than in other animals, they strongly shape our behavior. As pheromones move among us, they activate pre-coded genetic programs.

Pheromones fall into two categories ( signal and primer) that attract us to each other in different ways. Signal pheromones move through the air. These airborne particles ascend on their airy journey after the body’s heat evaporates them. When you wear clothes, your body heats the air, causing it to rise toward the highest opening. As the heated air rises, it picks up the pheromones secreted from your skin. When the air emerges around your face, it causes people to notice you. It takes about one second for smells from your face to reach someone 50 feet away in still air. In addition to making others aware of our presence, signal signal pheromones also cause immediate changes in behavior by activating certain areas of the brain.

The primer pheromone (a heavy protein) is passed directly by kissing or skin-toskin contact. When a mother kisses her baby, it increases mother-baby bonding. And I’ll bet we all can remember that first romantic kiss! This beautiful moment provided us with a perfect opportunity to check out pheromones. These bonding signals may explain why kissing occurs in all human cultures; it is a way of passing pheromones.

Priming pheromones increase the production of many hormones that affect development, metabolism, and mating behavior. These pheromones can take time to weave their special links. Consider how, at times, fertile women find it difficult to conceive. In married couples, it takes an average of six months to get pregnant. Perhaps the woman’s body must slowly adjust to her husband’s pheromones before becoming receptive to pregnancy. Women love to cuddle and snuggle—something that a new husband quickly learns will help him have a smooth relationship with his wife.

Why Women Call Men “Pigs”

In pigs, deer, goats, sheep, and some other animals, males compete for females on the basis of pheromone strength rather than physical strength or beauty. The animals with the strongest pheromones exude confidence and display threat without giving signals of fear. This reduces the incidence of actual physical combat for females, especially among deer and moose. The male pig that signals the strongest pheromones causes a psychological castration of his competition. It’s the survival of the fittest pig Now does this make for a chauvinist pig, or is it just an animal driven by hormonal instinct? I’ll let you decide.

This type of pheromone dominance may also apply to us. Many believe that the pheromone response in humans and pigs is similar. As hard as this may be on the ego, it’s probably true! Before we protest with a squealing ‘oink-oink’, consider how truffles entice both pigs and humans—and no, I’m not talking about chocolate truffles releasing pleasure hormones in women. Chocolate truffles derived their name from the highly prized truffle mushroom, a fungus that grows underground near oak trees in France and Italy. These have long been prized as a human aphrodisiac. Pigs, too, passionately lust for truffles and are used to sniff out and locate this precious fungi. Now here is some more amusing food for thought: Why do women often call men pigs when men rarely use this term for women? Could it be that ever since wild pigs were domesticated 7,000 years ago, women intuitively knew that many male human hormones resemble those
of pigs? Yes, if you are a man, your pheromone scent may affect females more strongly than your good looks, money, or wit.

QUOTABLE QUOTES:
The truffle is not exactly an aphrodisiac, but it tends to make women more tender and men more likeable.

The key pheromone in pigs, androstenone, gives boar urine its characteristic odor and also accounts for some of the odor in human male urine. Both women and female pigs respond to the smell of androstenone in their male partners. Pig breeders spray androstenone from aerosol cans on the backs of female pigs to determine whether the female is ready for breeding; if the sow arches her back, she is sexually receptive.

Smells Stir Our Emotions Into a Sensual Broth

During the Middle Ages, a man would wipe his brow after dancing and present the cloth to his lady as a token of his love. He may not have consciously realized that his smell would remain with her as a momento. The wives of Welsh miners put their husband’s nightshirts on their pillows in order to smell their men who spent nights away in the mines. Even today, a lady might wear her beau’s unwashed T-shirt. Aah! The compelling force of pheromones.

QUOTABLE QUOTES: The purest union that can exist between a man and a woman is that caused by the sense of smell and is sanctioned by the brain’s normal assimilation of the animate molecules emitted by the secretions produced by two bodies in contact and sympathy, and in their subsequent evaporation. –Auguste Galopin

How do pheromones evoke your emotions? Current theories postulate that smells affect the brain’s emotional control areas by activating nerves in the vomeronasal organ (VMO) in the nasal septum. To understand how the sense of smell influences the brain, it helps to understand how the brain works. The brain consists of three areas. The lower part of the brain, the brain stem, controls functions such as breathing and heartbeat. The central area, called the limbic system, generates emotions. Some limbic areas promote feelings of peace, contentment, and attraction, while other areas cause feelings of anger, rage, hostility, loneliness, and so on. The conscious brain, where thinking occurs, occupies the topmost and outer area of the brain. However, the conscious mind does not emit emotions. The reason we love someone has more to do with how that one smells to the limbic system than what we consciously think. Smell signals are sent directly to the limbic system where emotions arise.

QUOTABLE QUOTES: Her breasts, like lilies, ‘ere their leaves be shed; Her nipples, like young blossomed jessamines; Such fragrant flowers do give most odorous smell. But her sweet odour did them all excel. –Edmund Spencer

Pheromones affect how we feel about and react to others from the moment we are born. Infants have an oral fixation as they cuddle their mother’s breasts. Newborns follow the sweet breast scent emanating from the nipple/areola. The aroma evokes feelings of love, safety, and nurturing, which guide the infant to nurse. Within minutes of birth, the mother’s breast fragrance exerts its pheromone effect, causing the baby’s head to turn and helping to guide the baby to successful suckling suckling of milk. These nipple pheromones may also explain men’s irrational obsession with women’s breasts (Winberg & Porter 1998, Porter & Winberg 1999, Schaal et al 2003).

Since smells have such a powerful impact on our emotions, it should come as no surprise that a lack of smell limits our ability to emotionally bond. Approximately 1.3% of the population is born with a total lack of smell, known as anosmia. Persons with anosmia often complain about a lack of libido. While they may marry, emotional distance remains a problem. Likewise, the decline in sex drive with aging coincides with the decline in smell.

phErOMONES aCT EvEN iF YOu CaN’T SMEll ThEM

While many pheromones give off distinctive scents that evoke emotion, they may be too weak to consciously detect. For example, a male dog can respond to pheromones from a female dog at a distance of up to three miles, at a concentration too faint to consciously smell. Humans also respond to pheromone levels that are too low to smell. At Stanford University, Sobel and colleagues found that an airborne fragrant pheromone (oestra- 1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3yl acetate) activated brain centers even when present at concentrations below a threshold of conscious detection (Sobel et al 1999).

Bathing and the Decline of Bonding

As our culture advances, we tend to bathe more and bond less. This suggests that washing removes skin pheromones and weakens interpersonal bonding in families and between couples. The tie between washing and the decline of chemical attraction is present throughout history, from ancient to modern times. In the Roman Republic, family ties were very strong. However, as this society evolved into the wealthy Roman Empire, with its adequate water supplies and free municipal baths, personal bonds grew weaker, divorce became common, and social disorganization increased. With the rise of early Christianity and its dislike of nudity and bathing, family ties began to strengthen.

In the USA, California led the way in personal cleanliness. By the 1940’s, many Californians bathed or showered daily, washing away their personal pheromones in the process, while most of the United States stuck to weekly bathing. Soon, California also led the nation in divorce rates and family breakdown. At about the same time, Scandinavia led Europe as a hallmark for personal cleanliness, and soon it also experienced family breakdown. Swedes often complained that they f with their immense social programs, prosperous economies, and basic friendliness have not solved these problems.

WhY EXpENSivE pErFuMES dON’T WOrK

Studies by Alan Hirsch and Jason Gruss (Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation, Chicago and University of Michigan) found that expensive perfumes are less effective than many essential oils and common foods. They studied the effects of several different scents on sexual arousal of men and women by comparing the subjects’ blood flow in sexually aroused tissues (penile or clitoral blood flow) while wearing scented masks and while wearing non-odorized, blank masks. Expensive perfumes increased blood flow by only 3% in men. In contrast, the combined odor of lavender and pumpkin pie produced a 40% increase in men. Many other scents also worked better than the perfumes. While these results pertain to men, the researchers reported that women also responded poorly to expensive perfumes and positively to other smells. Hirsch suggests that certain scents may increase sexual arousal by acting on the brain in three different ways: by reducing anxiety, which inhibits natural sexual desire; increasing alertness and awareness, making the subjects more aware of sexual cues in the environment around them; and acting directly to the septal nuclei, a portion of the brain that induces sexual arousal (Hirsch 1998).

Social Pheromones — Calming Aphrodisiacs

Have you ever entered a crowded room and felt anxiety and agitation? Or how about road rage? You’re stuck in traffic not going anywhere with drivers honking and cursing. What can you do? Although most research has focused on sexual pheromones, there are aromatic oils that also boast harmonizing properties that change behavior patterns, reduce mental stress, and improve social interactions. These “social pheromones” include many long established pure essential oils that have been used for thousands of years in social events, weddings, and spiritual gatherings. For example, sanatol (one of the active ingredients in sandalwood oil and Asian oud), has harmonizing and anti-conflict properties. When mice are caged together, this leads to conflict and fighting. Exposure to the smell of sanatol reduces the conflict among the mice. Ylang Ylang calms with similar anti-conflict properties. Lavender oil reduces perinatal discomfort in women following childbirth and the pain of patients in intensive care units. Remaining still inside a cramped magnetic resonance scanner often causes anxiety and claustrophobia. Whiffs of heliotropin, a vanilla-like fragrance, before the procedure reduced patient anxiety 63 percent. Some aromatic oils known for their aphrodisiac qualities are jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose, sandalwood and vanilla, but this aphrodisiac effect may be due to how well they calm us and reduce stress . . . ahhh . . . nothing like calmness followed by sensuality!

Remember, these social pheromones can calm the worst of moods and decrease conflict in social situations. Ylang Ylang is just one of several pheromones that has been shown to lessen conflict and aggressive behavior. Sandalwood oil also has a calming affect by reducing anxiety. And if you are under mental stress at work or school, try lavender oil, which can calm you down so that you can focus and be more alert while having an uplifted, friendly attitude.

E FFOrTS TO CrEaTE aN EFFECTivE pErFuME

Several companies have been set up to develop romantic pheromones for consumers, based on the human pheromone, but most have failed to deliver results.

For me, the use of aromatic plant oils as body perfumes was just an idea. Since women love irresistible perfumes to lure men, I became fascinated with pheromones that might trigger attraction even better than perfumes. I read everything I could as I delved in a fragrant web of research. My conclusions are as follows:

1. If pheromones are species-specific, humans shouldn’t be able to detect animal-derived pheromones. But even if they could, what reactions might we expect? Taking into account that many animals become more dangerous during mating periods, humans shouldn’t be attracted to the smell of a ready-to-mate boar; they should feel fear or aggression. Androstenone triggers both sexual attraction and aggression in boars. In mice, certain pheromones cause male mice to kill other male mice (male odors increase attacks, female odors decrease attacks). Male lions and bears will, at times, kill the offspring of a female in order to mate with her. If purely sexual human pheromones (similar to pig androstenone) were discovered, they couldn’t be used in a perfume. If humans followed the urge for pheromone-induced mating, people would get arrested! human pheromones that affect different aspects of behavior.

3. Some musk-smelling plant pheromones, used by plants to attract bees and other pollinators to the sweet smell of nectar, are very similar to animal pheromones. Nature uses the same systems over and over again. For example, musk is a strong pheromone from musk deer, musk ducks, musky moles, muskrats, musk ox, and musk beetles. However, similar pheromones exist in musk melons, musk hyacinths, musk cherries, musk thistle, musk rose, musk plums, and musk wood.161 Brain research suggests that calming oils may enhance sexual pleasure. Neuroscientist Gert Holstege (University of Groningen), using positron-emission tomography, found that to achieve a sexual climax, the amygdala (the brain’s center of vigilance and fear) is silenced while activity in brain areas that are involved in judgment and reflection are greatly reduced. This occurs in men and even more so in women. He commented, “Fear and anxiety need to be avoided at all costs if a woman wishes to have an orgasm” (Holstege 2005).

4. When creating pheromone perfumes, most companies just use the molecule with the chemical smell rather than the original essential oil. But we don’t know which component of the complex mixture is able to communicate with our brain; it might even be an odorless component! By throwing away everything but the part that the nose can smell, these companies might also be throwing away the magic.

5. Historically, many of the traditional mood-altering essential oils have also been used for skin care. Patchouli has long soothed as an anti-inflammatory and aid for dry, cracked skin. The oil of lavender soothes skin and was applied to wounds in ancient Greece and Rome. It is still enjoyed today. Sandalwood can regenerate your skin while also treating acne, dry skin, rashes, chapped skin, eczema, itching, and sensitive skin. It also has anti-skin cancer actions (Kaur et al 2005, Dwivedi et al 2003, Dwivedi & Zhang 1999). You can dab on Ylang Ylang to treat eczema, acne, oily skin, and the irritation associated with insect stings or bites. With so many ways to benefit from essential oils, it is difficult to find a reason not to use them.

FrOM ThEOrY TO praCTiCE

You are probably thinking that all of these pheromones sound enticing. But you may be asking yourself, “Which one should I use and how do I know it will really work?” I hear you! So after my preliminary research, I decided to put this sweet smelling theory into practice. I tested pheromones on some very enthusiastic perfume-lovers. These women wanted natural ingredients that could sensually and socially attract better than their expensive perfumes. The volunteers were asked to wear each of the pheromones and record people’s reactions. In every case, the test subjects found few positive responses to the human pheromones. Conversely, all of them reported positive responses to at least some of the plant pheromones! These women elicited affection, flirtation and socially uplifting interaction. People were so much more friendly and talkative both at home, work, and when they were out socializing.

Based on their responses, the most effective plant pheromones were the essential oils of jasmine, ylang ylang, nutmeg, sandalwood, Asian oud, patchouli, and lavender.

BOdY pErFuMES WiTh plaNT dErivEd phErOMONES

“Exactly which pheromones should I try?”, you may ask. Based on my experiments, the following plant pheromones won rave reviews; you may want to experiment on yourself to see what you attract! Some of the most popular scents include: patchouli (good for attracting women), ylang ylang (good for attracting men), musk, sandalwood, and jasmine (these three are universal attractants). By using
an appropriate version of perfume oils based on plant pheromones, you can strongly modify your personal “odor signature” in a positive way.

Think Torso and Legs, Not Wrists and Earlobes

For thousands of years, men and women applied perfumes to their torso and legs. Why was this the case? Well, the heat of your body evaporates pheromones and scents and blends them into your individual odor signature. This signature signature brew is made up of a complex mixture of pheromones, body oils, fatty acids, sweat, and hormones such as androsterone secreted onto the skin from the apocrine glands. In addition, the 40 million skin cells that you shed each day are combined to your odor signature. However, the modern method of applying perfumes to the wrists and earlobes only reflects the ignorance of the modern cosmetic industry. It is best to apply body perfumes after a bath or shower. Dry yourself, and then apply pheromone products on your body, especially on large, heat-producing areas such as the chest, breasts, and legs. If you bathe at night, the oils should be applied to your dry skin in the morning. Finding a perfume with plant derived pheromones that best complements your unique odor signature and attracts the type of people that you desire, may take some trial and error. Work your way through the oils one by one until you find the one that is most effective for you. Apply the oil, then dress normally and go about your daily routine.

If the oil is working, responsive people will unconsciously notice you from three-to-five feet away. Watch for those who unexpectedly turn and smile or extend conversations. Using plant-derived pheromones is a little like trolling for salmon while testing different lures; it takes some time, but keep trying and eventually you’ll find the right lure (scent). As you have fun testing pheromones, enjoy how the multitude of scents elicit feelings of one kind or another. Create an aura of power and confidence, or of capable competence, cool composure, warmth and friendship, empathy and compassion, and sexuality. Encourage a nesting vibe in men. Encourage peaceful interactions with your family members. These scents have been passed down through generations and evoke current cultural perceptions with sense memory. Pheromones can feel magical as you become the star of your own social interactions.

Pickart PhD, Loren. GHK Copper Peptides: for Skin and Hair Beauty (p. 163). Cape San Juan Press. Kindle Edition.