The Basis of Human Attraction – Human Pheromones
While humans are much more evolved than any other animal or mammal on this planet, there is still
an animalistic nature within each of us, which is impossible to deny. That’s not to say that we are no
different than any animal, but we still have a fair bit in common with animals. One common thing that
we share with animals is something called pheromones. While human pheromones differ from animal
pheromones to an extent, human pheromones still largely determine who is seen as desirable from a
sexual point of view.
Human pheromones were first mentioned by a German physician in the 19th century. This physician
was named Gustav Jäger, and he described these pheromones as effectively being the signature of
human odor. Since the first mention of human pheromones, there have been many studies on many
different aspects of pheromones. Some of these studies have been strictly on the impact that human
pheromones have on physical attraction but some are also on more broad topics and just understanding
how they work.
One study demonstrated that when females were exposed to a specific chemical found in male sweat,
it resulted in elevated levels of cortisol in the females. This chemical is detected by part of the nose,
which proves that although we may not be able to consciously identify the specific chemicals by
odor, our bodies are capable of doing so. Similarly, a study investigated a synthetic chemical found in
perfumes, and the study concluded that this chemical resulted in elevated sexual contact with males.
This pheromone is an example of a powerful human pheromone being isolated and used in a perfume to
increase appeal.
Another study which demonstrated the extreme power of human pheromones observed an effect
which has since then been named the McClintock effect. In short, this theory states that the menstrual
cycles of women will either slow down or speed up to synchronize with the other women that they are
frequently around. The study which established this effect was conducted by exposing the women to a
sample or perspiration, or sweat, which as we all know contains a larger number of pheromones. Since
the menstrual cycles of females exposed to sweat either sped up or slowed down, it has been theorized
that there are two distinct pheromones at work in this situation which are responsible for this change.

