Pheromones and Attraction: Have you ever felt an inexplicable attraction to someone as soon as you met them, but not been sure why?

Perhaps they weren’t overly ‘your type’. Maybe their attire was substandard. But nevertheless, you experienced a deep, almost primal, magnetism with this person?

Pheromones might have been to blame.

What are pheromones?

A pheromone is a hormone that is secreted outside the body. Most hormones work internally and have a direct effect only on the individual secreting them, but pheromones act as behaviour-altering agents in that they can have effects on other individuals in the vicinity. (In this sense, then, pheromones are actually ectohormones, for the boffins out there).

Pheromones are actively involved in sexual attraction. Upon release, they can stimulate arousal, desire, lust, even fertility. Pheromones are detected through smell and are secreted by way of sweat and saliva – although ‘smell’ might be a misleading term, as these chemicals do not have an odour. Instead, they are detected by specific areas of the nasal tissue, which then send messages to the brain.

Take androsterone, a male pheromone secreted by the adrenal gland and testes in only around 10% of men. The unconscious perception of this pheromone increases these men’s desirability and attractiveness, even if they are not conventionally handsome or good-looking.

Pheromones and attraction

The levels of pheromones a person produces can have a significant influence on their sexual activity. Individuals who secrete an elevated level of pheromones are likelier to have more sex, feel more confident and be perceived as more sexually attractive. These effects in turn draw these people more attention, social engagement and bonding with others.

It can of course be said that the opposite is true, too. Pheromones can turn people off for seemingly no reason. A love-at-first-sight reaction is often due to pheromones coursing between two individuals – but being immediately repelled by an individual may also be your pheromones indicating to you that you and they have little genetic compatibility and that, therefore, reproduction is off the cards.

Increasing your pheromones

Because pheromones have been proven, time and again, to increase both your attractiveness and the quality of your sex life, fragrance companies such as Initio have been working to bottle the scent of pheromones into perfumes. They have developed a secret recipe of unique scent molecules, which trigger attraction and impulse in all whom you meet – and the science is there to back it up.

A 2005 study by anthropologist Prof. Karl Grammer at the University of Vienna found that men who used topical pheromones (artificial scents or perfumes that can be applied to the skin to emulate the effects of natural pheromones) experienced an amazing 52% improvement in their success rate when attempting to start – and maintain – conversations with women. They also noted an increase in the frequency and quality of compliments received, as well as significantly more flirting and a 40% overall boost in female sexual responsiveness.

In the same study, women who utilised topical pheromones found themselves being asked out on dates more often. Furthermore, a massive 74% of women reported an increase in sex and other forms of intimacy, such as hugs and cuddling.

There’s no doubt about it: the application of topical pheromones that mimic the structure and actions of natural human pheromones (or fragrances incorporating them, such as Initio) can have dramatic effects on your sex life and vastly increase your attractiveness to potential partners.

The amount of pheromones you produce is highly dependent on both your genetic makeup and your lifestyle. Nevertheless, there are ways to boost your pheromone output in entirely natural ways.

For example, exercising regularly obviously increases your sweat output. Now, I’m not suggesting you walk around wearing three-day-old gym clothes – but, by exercising more frequently, you’re more likely to produce pheromones in your sweat, which then hang about in your pores and hair. What’s more, exercising allows you to rid your body of toxins, clear your skin of impurities and look and feel better overall.

 

The future of pheromones

The study of pheromones is in its infancy. Many remain sceptical about their very existence, but the wealth and sheer gravity of the research is beginning to leave naysayers by the wayside.

The utility of pheromone research has astounding and potentially massive implications. Pheromones can be used to help regulate or improve mood, relax, reduce anxiety and decrease depression. They are also proving extremely powerful in sex counselling, helping couples who are struggling with intimacy.

If you’re single and looking for love – if you’re looking for some good old-fashioned, unabashed attraction, flirtation and fun – Maclynn (formerly Vida) can help. We are an international, multi-award-winning dating agency, and have helped literally thousands of dynamic, successful, amazing individuals meet the partners of their dreams. Get in touch today and let us get you on the road to romance.