Perfumes with Pheromones: Myths and Facts Explained

Perfumes with Pheromones are real? From social media to magazine ads to simply picking up the next luxury beauty product, pheromone perfumes are everywhere. The brand promises seduction and the boldest marketing, but when it comes to science, the story is far more complex.

So before you buy into the pheromone perfume craze, let’s break it down. How are pheromones classified? What does the research suggest? What is actually put in the bottles? And let’s be honest, what actually causes a fragrance to be a lasting impression?

The answers to all this and more are right here.

What are Pheromones?

Pheromones are a classified form of chemical signaling. Among many other species (mostly animal), they can influence the behavior of the population, create attraction, signal danger, or even mark territory. This is more or less universally understood across species.

Humans aren’t as straightforward. Some researchers of the National Institutes of Health have dedicated years of their research to the field of neurobiology, asking if pheromones exist in humans. The most recent research and surveys left with the conclusion that no human pharamones exist. And although some researchers at Science.org have suggested that human pheromones do most likely exist, it has never been documented.

The simplest way to say it is, as reported by Harvard Health, is if they exist at all, it is highly debatable whether or not they affect human behavior.

What do we actually know?

It is a fact that all humans have a vomeronasal organ (VNO). This organ is used to detect pheromones in some other species. It is also known that in adult humans, this organ is most likely a vestigial organ. This would mean that even though it still exists in the human body, it has little to no function. The human olfactory system is still known to detect scents in a very powerful way. However, it is still a mystery if humans release any chemical signals that can be classified as pheromones. Pheromones, as they are defined, are considered to be chemicals that evoke a behavioral stimulus in a target individual.

Currently, science supports the idea that humans are able to produce pheromones, but no evidence strongly proves that pheromones exist.

What are Pheromone Perfumes?

Perfumes with Pheromones are perfumes that are marketed to contain chemicals that are derived or made synthetically and are considered to be pheromones by some researchers. The most common of these chemicals are known to be androstadienone, androstenone, and androstenol.

The logic behind these pheromone perfumes can be explained like this: if the human body is known to produce chemical signals that can socially and romantically affect other people, then probably adding those signals to a perfume will affect people more.

However, the truth of the matter is that this is a far more complicated issue. The chemicals that are used in these perfumes are real chemicals, and there are many studies of very small sizes that are famous for their exploration of androstadienone and their effect on mood and social perception. These studies are known to give inconsistent results. What is more, pheromone compounds have no relation to proven medically hypothesized mechanisms of human attraction.

What pheromone perfumes are is a perfume that smells nice. The claim to pheromones is largely a marketing tactic and should be considered a selling tactic of fantasy rather than fact.

Here’s the breakdown of some myths surrounding pheromone perfumes.

First, people believe Perfumes with Pheromones will make them attractive to everyone. This is the most widely believed myth out there, and also the least defendable.

To date, not a single study has gone through the peer-review process and shown that the use of a pheromone perfume, used in the right way, will cause other people to feel pheromonal attraction. Where effects have been shown in the lab, they have been shown to be weak, and inconsistent, and were only shown in very specific contexts. It is not possible to sell a perfume that overrides the workings of psychology, personal preferences, or the dynamics of relationships as a whole.

People also believe that stronger perfumes make for stronger effects. This is untrue. People have shown that adding more of the androstadienone compound makes the perfume smell stronger, but that does not make the effects of the perfume any stronger or more potent.

The third myth states that pheromones will have the same effects on all people. The reality is that attraction depends on psychology and culture among other things. Even if pheromones have the same effects in a lab, there is no basis behind the assumption that those effects will be felt the same way by every single person.

Lastly, just because a company slaps the word "pheromone" on the label, doesn't mean that they put any scientific research or study into making the perfume. It just means a company is trying to market their product. There are no guidelines that govern the use of the word "pheromone" by companies, as perfume companies are free to put any claims that they want on the packaging. It is very seldom the case that any company has verified through clinical testing that their perfume holds any scientific merit.

These myths do not mean that pheromone perfumes do not have any effects. It just means that the marketing makes the perfume sound very powerful, when in reality they are not.

Scent and confidence go hand in hand. Having a favorite fragrance alters behavior and posture. Evidence shows that feeling good and confident is one of the first things that people notice. It's the behavior change resulting from the confidence that draws people in and not the fragrance.

One of the most powerful links the brain has is between scent and memory. This connection is due to the direct link of the olfactory bulb to the amygdala and hippocampus. Because of this, people can recognize and remember unique scents. This is true even with the absence of synthetic pheromones.

When talking about fragrance, forget the pheromones and think about how scent interacts with skin chemistry, and the fragrance notes. Fragrances consist of chemistry that bring the scent together. These notes and how they interact impact how a fragrance is perceived and remembered. A positive impression can be achieved through great fragrance chemistry.

A unique quality of Mecarte Luxury fragrances is that they contain no alcohol. Fragrances with alcohol quickly evaporate, but an alcohol-free fragrance interacts deeply with the skin and lasts longer.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Fragrance that Lasts:

Forget the pheromone packaging. Look at what matters for fragrance lasting power and performance.

Fragrance concentration is important to understand. Parfum (or extrait de parfum) has between 20–40% fragrance oil, meaning it is the highest concentration and is the longest lasting. Eau de Parfum (EDP) has 15–20% concentration and lasts 6–8 hours. Eau de Toilette (EDT) has between 5–15% concentration and typically lasts 4–6 hours. All Mecarte fragrances are Eau de Parfum and are designed to last.

Pulse points are where you want to apply fragrance. These include the wrists, the neck, and the areas behind the ears and the inner elbows. Fragrance is activated and projected by the heat these areas give off.

Applying an unscented moisturizer before fragrance is a good idea. Dry skin absorbs fragrance and makes it dissipate faster. Fragrance will evaporate fastest from dry skin.

Fragrance should be sprayed and not rubbed in. The top notes will break down faster and evaporate if the fragrance is rubbed in.

You should keep your fragrance away from heat and light. The temperature and lighting where the fragrance is kept should not be inconsistent. Fragrance should not be kept on window sills or bathroom shelves.

Fragrance notes should be chosen based on how well they fit your skin chemistry. Woody, musky, and ambery notes will have a longer presence compared to a fresher, citrus fragrance.

Get the right perfumes in India

Mecarte's Long Lasting Fragrance Collection is an original, carefully made, alcohol-free fragrance collection without empty promises or pheromone marketing.

1. Spariti, the first signature fragrance of Mecarte, lasts 24 hours from INR 1,499.
2. Daflar, the fragrance with the best reviews for mens party fragrances, is a bold, high projection fragrance priced from INR 1,499.
3. Friona perfume is INR 1399 and is a floral fragrance inspired by a classic aroma. Arabe perfume is INR 1399 and is a fusion of the French and Arabic perfume worlds. Zephye perfume is INR 1299 and is a great versatile fragrance for daily use. Zenzou perfume is a bestselling unisex fragrance under INR 1000.

You can view the entire Long-Lasting Perfumes for All Occasions range or all Mecarte products.

If you want to try a few fragrances before you buy a full size bottle, you can buy the Mini Perfume Gift Box for INR 499 and receive 3 samples.

Perfumes with pheromones are largely considered a smart marketing choice as the science behind them is flimsy at best. That said, great perfumes will touch people, engage memories, and leave an impression.

Mecarte's collection is always alcohol-free, inspired by French and Arabic traditions, and designed to last.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s): Perfumes with Pheromones

Q: Do pheromone perfumes actually work?

Currently, there is no agreement in the scientific community regarding the effectiveness of any pheromone perfumes on enhancing attraction. Researchers within the NIH and Harvard Health have mentioned that pheromone signals have not been proven to exist in functional form in humans. There are far more social perception drivers than confidence and the olfactory impression of a good fragrance.

Q: What’s in pheromone perfumes?

Pheromone perfumes most often contain synthetic compounds, androstadienone, androstenone, and androstenol. These are thought to be some of the closest compounds to human pheromones. Although they are real compounds, there is little evidence to support any effect to humans in the context of a large study with peer review.

Q: Is there a difference between pheromone perfume vs regular perfume?

Only the marketing claim. A pheromone perfume is a fragrance that contains synthetic pheromone compounds and is stated to be an attraction enhancing fragrance. There is no governing body that makes them prove these statements, and the fragrance chemistry behind a pheromone perfume is the same as any other regular perfume

Q: What actually makes a perfume long-lasting?

Fragrance concentration, the formulation of a perfume, and where it is applied (moisturized pulse points). Mecarte’s are alcohol-free perfumes and EDPs (Extrait de Parfum).

Q: Are Mecarte perfumes alcohol-free?

Yes. Mecarte Luxury perfumes are alcohol-free.

Q: Are you able to sample Mecarte perfumes before purchasing a full-size bottle?

Absolutely. Mecarte provides a Mini Perfume Gift Box that contains 3 of their sample sized perfumes for INR 499. These miniature perfumes give you a chance to explore their collection before making a larger commitment.

Q: Which Mecarte perfume lasts the longest?

The flagship, long-lasting perfume from Mecarte is Spariti. It is designed to last 24 hours and is the best long-lasting perfume from Mecarte. For women, we suggest Friona, and for men, Daflar and Arabe are popular selections.