Presented by BetterHelp.

The five senses of smell, touch, taste, sight, and sound have allowed various species to thrive for centuries on planet earth. Each serves a valuable purpose, and it would be hard to live without any one of them for too long. Smell is one such sense that has long been utilized to send messages, among other uses. As technology has advanced, scientists have been able to learn more and more about powerful chemicals species use for attraction. Indeed, this is how they discovered what are known as pheromones. Pheromones have been discovered in virtually every type of animal such as lobsters, ants, mice, and more. You can learn more about them at https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/pheromones/.  They are useful for finding mates, but also serve many other functions. The science isn’t clear yet concerning humans and pheromones but is still interesting to explore. One thing is certain though, and that’s that pheromones matter and make a difference in the circle of life.

What Are Pheromones?

Pheromones in their simplest form are chemicals released by animals, plants, and even bacteria. Once they’re released from the body, they have the ability to influence the behavior of another member of the same species. Whereas hormones only affect the individual secreting them, pheromones affect others too. When a pheromone is released, it sends out a signal that other individuals can most often detect through their sense of smell. Once received, it can have all sorts of effects. Not all smells are pheromones, but many of them are.

Types of Pheromones

There are four different categories of pheromones. Each satisfies a unique purpose and operate at different speeds. The four types are:

  1. Releasers: These are associated with sexual attraction and command a prompt response.
  2. Signalers: These provide information by giving out one’s scent. Signalers can assist mothers in recognizing their baby by its scent, which fathers normally cannot do.
  3. Modulators: Often found in sweat, modulators influence bodily functions. They can even affect a female’s menstruation.
  4. Primers: Primers take more time to receive a response. They affect pregnancy, menstruation in females, and puberty, among other things. They can also cause hormone levels to fluctuate.

Pheromone Examples

There are an endless number of ways in which pheromones assist an individual, colony, or species as a whole. Below are just a few examples of pheromones at play in different species:

  • Ants use pheromones to determine whether another ant is a member of its own colony.
  • If the queen bee releases a certain pheromone, it alerts the other bees not to reproduce. This pheromone also controls all other activities of the worker bees.
  • Dominant male dogs leave pheromones in their urine so that females will be attracted to it, sniff it, and remember both the individual smell and exact location.
  • Parents can recognize their baby their scent alone.
  • Silkworm moths travel miles to find a female moth who emits a pheromone to be followed.
  • Wasps are attracted to their hosts because of the pheromones they leave behind.

 Why Do Pheromones Matter?

Pheromones matter because they serve many different purposes, which are listed below. Though these purposes can and do change depending on the species, they all have the same effect: moving along some important process in the animal kingdom.

 Attracting a mate

  • Marking a territory
  • Sending a threat message to another animal
  • Causing sexual arousal
  • Stimulating fertility
  • Raising an alarm
  • Creating a bond between mother and baby
  • Communicating sexual interest

Humans and Pheromones

To date, there is no conclusive answer concerning humans and pheromones. However, a lot of scientific research suggests that humans most likely have them. Although there are still a lot of questions surrounding human pheromones, you can find plenty of products on the market that claim to contain them. Things like perfume, soap, lotion, and even pills promise to win you sexual conquests should you purchase them. Note that there is no solid evidence these products are effective and will do what they claim to do. The hunt for human pheromones persists to this day.

Conclusion

The sense of smell is a vital bodily function that many species rely on to survive. It plays an important role in locating food, distinguishing between poison and safe food, and enjoying how something tastes. When it comes to humans, the extent to which pheromones play a part in our daily lives is still up for debate. However, it has been made clear through scientific research that pheromones are vital for many different purposes in a variety of species. Understanding how pheromones work can help you make sense of the different things animals commonly do. At the very least, it is interesting information to consider, especially as research concerning human pheromones is still in progress.