Is Androstadienone a Putative Human Pheromone?
Marazziti D, Torri P, Baroni S, Dell'osso MC, Consoli G, Boncinelli V.
Curr Med Chem. 2011 Feb 3

On the basis of different evidences, androstadienone, a steroid compound produced in the armpit, has been proposed as a human pheromone, although its physiological levels appear too low to induce a response under experimental conditions. For this reason, the majority of researchers in this area puts into question the "legitimacy" of androstadienone, and prefers to consider the axillary extracts in its entirety, like a sort of "medicinal tea", the components of which still remain to be identified, but that taken together may induce a response, or function as a carrier of other active substances. Another option is that androstadienone acts with varying degrees of potency and, at lower concentrations, according to the context and to specific behavioral situations. The aim of this paper is to review all relevant data regarding androstadienone, in order to ascertain whether it may be considered a physiological pheromone and, as such, a possible target of future modulators of some human behaviors.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20347855

my emphasis added because I don't know of any study that indicates androstadienone influences behavior.

James V. Kohl
scentoferos.com

I remember a few years ago hearing a radio news item that claimed a study found that one's own armpit odor reduced stress.

Mr. Kohl, what are these "axillary extracts" mentioned in the abstract? Is it just male sweat obtained from the armpits? Would it be possible to identify each and every molecule found in sweat, isolate it and test it? Are human pheromones found exclusively in sweat?

I have an intuition. There's this friend of mine who is very handsome and has very masculine facial traits. This guy is treated in a privileged way no matter where he is. People just like him. Men trust him and want his attention, and women love him and want to have sex with him and he does absolutely nothing, it just happens like this. Is it possible that the cause of this privileged treatment from other humans is not his masculine facial traits, but is the same cause that gave him his masculine facial traits?

I mean to say: is it possible that he genetically has an increased production rate of some masculine hormone (testosterone?), and that caused both the development of his masculine facial traits AND an increased pheromonal activity, which is responsible of all the "social/sex/trust" vibe he conveys?

Increased testosterone during puberty does indeed cause the development of masculine facial traits such as a strong jawline. Some of the more familiar axillary substances (Androstadienone , androsterone & androstenol) are metabolites of testosterone, and so probably should be higher in someone with higher testosterone levels. So I think your theory is sound.

A while back nbully dug up a study that broke down the quantities of axillary odorous steroids in a small sample of men, and did all the math to convert it to micrograms. If I can ever get my hands on some androstadienols, I'll reproduce the natural ratio to see what happens when the quantities are altered but the ratios are preserved.

Anyway, google his blog for a great read.

His genetically predisposed androgen (testosterone production) is the basis for the formulation of products that include androgen metabolites that enhance the attraction of the person who wears the product: namely Scent of Eros for men. I am presenting data from the study that showed this on Saturday of this week at AChems, and have posted information in this regard to this list (I think). You may want to look at Pheromones.com because you have accurately portrayed much of what is known about the neuroscience involved in pheromone-enhancement.

He looks better because he smells better. I said this in at least one of the videos that I've posted to Youtube.com

James V. Kohl
http://www.pheromones.com

(04-15-2011 10:19 AM)Pherosoup Wrote:  Mr. Kohl, what are these "axillary extracts" mentioned in the abstract? Is it just male sweat obtained from the armpits? Would it be possible to identify each and every molecule found in sweat, isolate it and test it? Are human pheromones found exclusively in sweat?

I have an intuition. There's this friend of mine who is very handsome and has very masculine facial traits. This guy is treated in a privileged way no matter where he is. People just like him. Men trust him and want his attention, and women love him and want to have sex with him and he does absolutely nothing, it just happens like this. Is it possible that the cause of this privileged treatment from other humans is not his masculine facial traits, but is the same cause that gave him his masculine facial traits?

I mean to say: is it possible that he genetically has an increased production rate of some masculine hormone (testosterone?), and that caused both the development of his masculine facial traits AND an increased pheromonal activity, which is responsible of all the "social/sex/trust" vibe he conveys?

Thank you dbot and Mr. Kohl. I'm off to look for the sources you suggested.

I just spoke with Matts Olsson who was first author on the 2008 ISOT poster that reported no effect on flirtatious behavior in couples with use of androstadienone. He is presenting results at AChemS 2011 from a study on natural body odors and human disease recognition, which incorporates the same mechanisms as those involved in the signaling of reproductive fitness (e.g., perhaps via androsterone). We may be getting closer to additional study design that examines androsterone as a species-specific indicator of reproductive fitness. Simply put, there may be some additional studies already being reported at conferences, but these are unlikely to reach the public for another year or two.

James V. Kohl
http://www.pheromones.com

(04-16-2011 4:20 AM)Pherosoup Wrote:  Thank you dbot and Mr. Kohl. I'm off to look for the sources you suggested.