Pheromones in humans are chemicals that the body releases through sweat, urine, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluid, which are believed to act as signals to other people of the same species. These chemicals are thought to influence behaviors such as sexual attraction, mood, social bonding, and reproductive physiology. However, unlike many animals that detect pheromones through a specialized organ called the vomeronasal organ (VNO), humans have a VNO that is generally considered non-functional, and the exact role and existence of human pheromones remain a debated subject in science. Humans may detect pheromones through the olfactory system in the nose, which can send signals to the brain. Some studies suggest specific steroidal compounds like androstadienone (found in male sweat) and estratetraenol (found in female urine) could act as human pheromones, affecting mood, sexual response, and even mate selection, but these effects often depend on context and individual sensitivity. Pheromones are categorized into types such as releaser (causing immediate behavioral responses), signaler (providing information about the individual), modulator (affecting mood and emotions), and primer (influencing hormones over time). Despite ongoing research, there is no definitive identification of a human pheromone and how they function as clearly as in other species.
