Pheromones are biological signalling mechanisms. For some animals, they act as chemical turn-ons and are critical to initiating the mating dance.

But do humans respond to pheromones? After following this topic for years and reviewing the scientific research, I believe that humans are affected by pheromones - up to a point.

Pheromones do send sexual signals - signals like: -I'm male- or -I'm female-, -I'm aroused- or -I'm in estrous-. The fact that a person sends or receives some of these messages doesn't automatically mean they will engage in the act. Pheromones are one part in the chain of communication between people. By themselves, pheromones are not a silver bullet for the would be seducer. They can be an extra edge, an interpersonal ice-breaker, a part of the conversation.

Chemical pheromones can be compared to visual signalling - when aroused, the lips swell and become flush with blood. Lipstick is a way of sending that same cue. Studies have shown a woman with lipstick generally gets more attention from men. But it doesn't make all men mad with passion for her. Lipstick might give her the first move to announce herself, but doesn't determine the entire course of the interaction. Lipstick on an obnoxious woman doesn't make her that much more desirable.

Most of the commercially available pheromones are derrived from steroids ... compounds like androstenone. Some are produced directly by the body, others are the result of bacterial action on oily compounds in sweat. If you shop around for pheromones to add to your perfume, you will find the three most common pheromones are:

• NONE - Androstenone
• NOL - Androstenol
• RONE - Androsterone

Scents can be sensual. Scents can be powerful in brining up memories or evoking emotional states. Pheromones can help a person appear attractive. Just don't neglect the grooming, men, or think that personality doesn't matter. Pheromones may get you more sales leads, but that isn't quite the same things as more business. :)

Research Highlights

When male pheromones were sprayed on chairs in a waiting room, women were more likely to sit in those chairs, and men were less likely to sit there.

Women in college dorms tend to synchronize their menstrual cycles via pheromones. Exposing women to concentrated pheromones in experiments can have the same effect.

The male pheromone 4,16-androstadien-3-one caused increased activity in areas of the female brain associated with sex. It causes a similar response in gay men, but not in heterosexual men or lesbians. Lesbian women and straight men showed activation of sexual regions of the brain when exposed to the estrogen derrivative estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3-ol.

Women seem to be able to protect the species against inbreeding through their sense of smell. When smelling sweat from individuals that were genetically similar, they were likely to describe the person in terms of 'brother,' 'father' or other non-sexual terms.

The term Love Apple once referred to an apple that was placed in the arm-pit to soak up pheromones, and then given to a lover or potential lover.

Although most states have laws against selling used underwear, thousands of women amateur internet models sell panties that they have worn for a day. These typically go for $25 to $50, and are carefully sealed to preserve the scent of a woman.