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Men helpless against new perfume
 A SCENT exuded by young women as a subconscious sex attractant has been synthesised for post-menopausal women, who are finding it is luring men in droves, the British weekly New Scientist says. Forty-four women took part in an experiment to see whether the pheromone - an odour received by heterosexual men as a sign of mating availability - worked for females beyond child-bearing age. Half the group added a chemical copy of the pheromone to their perfume, while the other added a lookalike dummy compound. None of the participants knew whether they were getting the real ingredient or the fake. For the next six weeks, the women kept diaries.
Dear Diary,
Tonite Henry jumped me without warning as I was serving the creamed spinach. Phil and Harriet were scandalized and the party was ruined. |
Among the pheromone users, 41 per cent reported they experienced more petting, kissing and affection with partners, compared with 14 per cent among the placebo group. Overall, 68 per cent of the pheromone groups reported increases in at least four "intimate socio-sexual behaviours," such as sex and formal dates. In the placebo group, only 41 per cent reported increases. The report, carried in next Saturday's New Scientist, is based on a study in a specialist publication, The Journal of Sex Research.
| I used to read that. But only for the articles. |
The research was carried out by Harvard University's Joan Friebely and Massachusetts doctor Susan Rako. What exactly is in the chemical is secret for the time being.
| Eye of newt, hair of bat, and a few other ingredients... |
The pheromone's discoverer, biologist Winnifred Cutler, is keeping its identity confidential until patents have been granted for her organisation, the Athena Institute for Women's Wellness Research in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
| Don't believe her! She's keeping it for herself! |
If the synthetic pheromone ever goes to market, joining other duplicates of human body odours - advertising specialists have a challenge on their hands. The secret odour does not come from the essence of alpine flowers or exotic spices so beloved of perfume ads to create a romantic image: it was isolated from a young woman's armpit sweat.
| "Maudette! You smell so... so... sweaty! Let's have sex!" |
Posted by: tipper 2005-01-29 |
