Human Euphoria: Clinical Studies On Pheromones

Since the discovery of pheromones over 3 decades ago, countless studies have been done on the exact way pheromones work in animals and humans. Some of the research findings specifically about human response to pheromones include the following:

A very well-know study by Martha McClintock, Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago showed how women’s menstrual cycles become synchronized based on odor cues.
A San Francisco State University study shows that pheromones in women's perfume increase intimate contact with men; the researchers concluded that men are more attracted to women wearing pheromones, resulting in more formal dates, kissing, affection, and sexual intercourse. This study appeared in the Spring 2002 issue of the quarterly journal Physiology and Behavior.

Below is a small excerpt from the San Francisco State University study.

"SAN FRANCISCO, March 20, 2002 --- Women's perfume laced with synthetic pheromones acts as a sexual magnet and increases the sexual attractiveness of women to men, San Francisco State University researchers concluded in a study appearing in the current issue of the quarterly journal Physiology and Behavior.

The study, the first of its kind in the world to independently test a sex attractant pheromone for women, showed that of the 36 women tested, 74 percent of those wearing their regular perfume with the pheromone saw an overall increase in three or more of the following sociosexual behaviors: frequency of kissing, heavy petting and affection, sexual intercourse, sleeping next to their partner, and formal dates with men. In contrast, only 23 percent of the women who had a placebo added to their perfume saw an increase in these sociosexual behaviors."

Three studies have found that women who see men socially at least three or four nights a week have significantly shorter menstrual cycles than women who do not (McClintock 1971; Cutler et al. 1980; Veith et al. 1983), even if the contact in these encounters is nonsexual. One small study (seven experimental subjects) has reported that male axillary odors accelerated women’s menstrual cycles (Cutler et al. 1986).
Airborne androstadienone, a steroid produced by the axillary scent glands, alters limbic system function and causes a positive affective reaction in women, even when its odor is effectively masked from conscious recognition. This is supported by studies done by two independent research teams (Grosser et al. 2000; Jacob and McClintock 2000; Jacob et al. 2001b, 2002).
Human axillary glands, and especially those of men, produce androstenone, which is known to serve as a sexual releaser pheromone in pigs.
It has been reported that an undisclosed mixture containing components of human axillary sweat acts as a sex attractant. This report (McCoy and Pitino 2002).
Several studies also showed that airborne pheromones reduce women’s feelings of tension and negative emotions (Grosser et al. 2000; Jacob and McClintock 2000, Jacob et al. 2002).

Other studies have suggested that people can use odor cues to select mates who are not closely related to themselves.

Read more about these special formulas,
one for Women and one for Men.