Pheromones are airborne chemical messengers that travel between animals of the same species, including humans. Each of these invisible, odorless messenger molecules is packed with a whole range of detailed information about you--such as your level of sexual desire, your level of aggression, and the attributes of your immune system.

Pheromones can cause us to have very powerful emotional reactions, without our being conscious of where the feelings are coming from--and often those feelings are of a sexual nature. Some pheromones have even been shown to alter hormone levels and fertility.

Every pheromone molecule carries with it your one-of-a-kind chemical “signature”, which is as unique as your DNA. Although you might not be aware of it, pheromone messenger molecules are continuously whirling off your body and into the air around you. They rise up from the recesses of your sweat glands, and they linger in strands of your hair. They hover around each of us like a mystical aura, creating invisible clouds of precise psychobiological information.

Pheromones are processed by two tiny organs inside the base of each nostril called the vomeronasal organ or the VNO. When these excitement-generating chemical messengers enter the VNO, and signal the brain, they completely bypass the higher cognitive circuits, and directly affect the hypothalamus, which is the center of the more primitive, emotional region of the brain. This helps to explain why we often get such strong gut reactions about people when we meet them for the first time.

The most potent pheromone-generating regions of the body are located in the groin, the armpits, and in the narrow strip of skin between the base of the nostrils and the upper lip, which is called the nasal sulcus.

Researchers believe that people dance closely with their potential sexual partners in order to get their noses close enough to their partner’s underarms, so that they are in a better position to evaluate that person’s pheromones.

Understanding the nasal sulcus’ role in pheromone production may help to explain why people kiss as a prelude to sex. It may be that people kiss their potential sexual partners as a way to more effectively sniff out their partner’s pheromones. Kissing appears to be nature’s way of getting our noses even closer to pheromone-rich regions of the body, allowing for an even more thorough evaluation. Oral sex, obviously, is another highly effective way to accomplish this.

There’s been a lot of research into pheromones over the past few years, and scientists are learning just how powerful the psychological and biological effects of these tiny chemical messengers can be. One of the results of this research is that a whole market has been created for pheromone-based perfumes, colognes, and other products that are designed to enhance one’s sexual attractiveness.

Since pheromone production tends to decrease with age, a number of products have been designed to help restore one’s pheromone clouds to more youthful levels. The adrenal hormone DHEA is thought to be a precursor to some pheromones, and taking DHEA or pregnenolone supplements may help to boost the production of these pheromones. (Click here to learn more about DHEA.)

Another interesting development to come out of this research is pheromone-based pharmaceuticals. Scientists are learning that pheromones can be altered in the laboratory to have powerful drug-like effects. These potent, synthesized modifications of naturally-occurring human pheromones are called vomeropherins, and they are currently being developed by Pherin Pharmaceuticals in Menlo Park, California. The development of designer pheromones may soon allow us to create heightened states of sexual excitation and enhanced states of sexual pleasure, as well as entirely new states of consciousness.

Anyone who wants to learn more about pheromones and vomeropherins should read Love Scents by Michelle Kodis. To order a copy of Love Scents click here.

To order pheromone-based perfumes, colognes and other pheromone-based products click HERE.