Do perfume additives termed human pheromones warrant being termed pheromones?
Two studies of the effects of perfume additives, termed human pheromones by the authors, have conveyed the message that these substances can promote an increase in human sociosexual behaviour [Physiol. Behav. 75 (2003) R1; Arch. Sex. Behav. 27 (1998) R2]. The present paper presents an extended analysis of this data. It is shown that in neither study is there a statistically significant increase in any of the sociosexual behaviours for the experimental groups. In the control groups of both studies, there are, however, moderate but statistically significant decreases in the corresponding behaviour. Most notably, there is no support in data for the claim that the substances increase the attractiveness of the wearers of the substances to the other sex. It is concluded that more research using matched homogenous groups of participants is needed.
Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, SE-751 42, Uppsala, Sweden. Anders.Winman@psyk.uu.se
Anders
A
Winman
D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010476:Perfume / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012107:Research Design; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D012919:Social Behavior
D010476:Perfume; D010675:Pheromones