Human Male Sweat Extract
Sends Strong Message
A recent study from the Dept
of Psychology, University College, London, indicates that Androstenol,
occurring in human underarm sweat, has definite pheromonal qualities. An
experiment with 76 student volunteers of both sexes showed that females
had increased social exchanges with males after brief exposure to
Androstenol.
For years scientists had
believed that the response to smells among humans is completely learned,
and that human beings have no inborn triggers to smells. The existence
of human pheromones (body secretions influencing behavior) was
discounted. Now research by J.J. Cowley, B.W.L. Brooksbank, and G. Dodd
shows that human olfactory communication does happen.
George Dodd of the
University of Warwick claims to have discovered a steroid he calls
Osmone 1, a possible progenitor of androstenone, which has tranquilizing
qualities in aromatherapy. He relates a curious fact that women are 1000
times more sensitive than men to the odour of steroid musk molecules.
Other researchers have found
suspected human pheromones in saliva and semen, and speculated on their
activity. Even Sigmund Freud had a theory on why humans repressed their
sensitivity to smells, which must have been bonding mechanism among our
ancestral tree-dwellers.
Anyone who has experienced
toxic elevator shock after a long ride in a tall building suffocated
with fellow travellers' aftershave and cologne is aware that artificial
scents are hugely popular. The discovery of human pheromones could
unleash an enormous boom in the fragrance trade, but social attitudes
towards natural scents might have to change.
One clever British inventor
has patented a method of extracting debt payment from deadbeats by
coating dunning letters with 13 possible male hormone extracts in order
to subconciously produce a submissive response in reaction to dominant
and threatening smells (GB 2241437).
The general area of human
olfaction science is developing rapidly, and few other patents have
issued yet. New concepts of mood-altering fragrances in workplace air
have just begun to be tested widely. Work has just begun on cataloging
smell genes, and research information on the effect of odorants on
humans is sketchy. Bright minds have devised such devices as electronic
noses and sharp entrepreneurs are attempting to trademark smells in
order to distinguish their wares.
For males who do not wish to
communicate by olfaction and want the ultimate deodorant, there is hope.
The bodily production of androstenol related substances has been
suppressed in pigs by immunization (US patent 4610877). Possibly the
same method could work in humans!
Human Exposure to Putative
Pheromones and Changes in Aspects of Social Behavior. J.J.Cowley, B.W.L.
Brooksbank, Jnl. Steroid Biochem. Molec. Biol. Vol. 39, no4B
pp.647-659,1991
A Whiff of Happiness. A.
Birchal, New Scientist, pp 44-47, 25 Aug. 1990
Development of an Electronic
Nose. H. Shurmer, A. Fard, G. Dodd. Phys. Technol. 18 (4), pp 170-176,
1987.
Back to
Pheromones Story
