How Someone's Smell Attracts A Prospective Partner According To Science

It has always been a mystery how attraction process happens, so Scishow created a video explaining the substance that might have something to do with how it does. The star of the video is known as "pheromones." Often referred to as the "chemical perfume," pheromones is often released by certain species to communicate, which usually starts a behavioral or psychological reaction.

Smithsonian.com described pheromones as airborne molecules which are commonly distinguished by smell. According to a study, people usually notice certain things with other people with the use of their olfactory sense.

The most common pheromones are the potent aphrodisiacs, like androstenone and androstanol, which are excreted in the saliva of a male boar. When the fertile female inhales the scent of these molecules, she will immediately show her behind to the male, which actually means they should mate.

In 1959, the very first pheromone, bombykol, was discovered in female silkworm moths. They are released to attract male silkworm moths that lead to their fluttering of their wings. The researchers then segregated and synthesized it and discovered that they work just the same. This led to experts now wondering if the same thing applies to humans.

According to medicaldaily.com, it may be possible that humans also emit pheromones. They referred to the famous t-shirt sniffing experiment, where a sweaty t-shirt was given to women to sniff and determine mate preference. The result showed that women preferred men who have a different genetic make-up than they do. The study also determined mate preference and selection based on biological factors.

However, humans as we are, we usually react to scents not because of the molecules they're made of. We notice a scent because of a certain substance. Maybe humans do have pheromones but the effects on them are usually not as strong as the effects seen on other species. Humans usually make use of the totally of their sense mixed with experience and social norms. This is one of the most major factors why human pheromones is still a mystery.

Video Credit: youtube.com/scishow