Proc Biol Sci April 2015 PMID 25740891

The search for human pheromones: the lost decades and the necessity of returning to first principles.

Tristram D Wyatt

Mentions

37
Peak: 8 in May 2025
across 5 sources since Jul 2017

Extended reach

8,386
potential audience

Total likes

65

Video views

4,343

Mentions per month

Jul 2017 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter14 posts
  • Reddit13 posts
  • News5 articles
  • Blogs3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions highlight the ongoing debate and skepticism around human pheromones, with examples like objections to claims about chemicals and mentions of study limitations, which reflect a cautious and critical tone; phrase choices such as 'flawed,' 'no conclusive evidence,' and 'almost all false positives' underscore the scientific uncertainty and collective cautious outlook.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

Most discussions indicate skepticism or a neutral stance, acknowledging the lack of conclusive evidence for human pheromones. The posts emphasize methodological flaws and the absence of proven findings.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate interest, mainly engaging through dismissive remarks or minor clarifications, rather than deep exploration of the subject.

EngagementModerate engagement

The exchanges involve some elaboration, with users citing studies or criticizing research flaws, suggesting a moderate level of thoughtful discussion.

ImpactModerate impact

The overall tone reflects an understanding that the scientific community remains inconclusive, so the perceived impact of ongoing research is seen as limited and cautious.

Abstract in brief

  • The search for human pheromones has been ongoing with little conclusive evidence, especially for the four steroid molecules traditionally claimed to be human pheromones.
  • Many studies claiming positive results suffer from small sample sizes, publication bias, and lack of replication, so their findings should be viewed skeptically.
  • To reliably identify human pheromones, researchers need to follow rigorous scientific methods used in other species, such as demonstrating behavioral responses and confirming the bioactivity of molecules like nipple secretions that may influence infant behavior.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
delco miku
@jadegotbeans · X

@citrusgirlpaige https://t.co/1TF27cJQBX

Mar 2, 2025 · 5 likes · 92 followers View post →
Ana
@maevenam · X

@The_Fancy_Squid @HawkInATX @meat_witch @BadMedicalTakes https://t.co/U07u4C2xzw https://t.co/t8BdvjF7ww

Sep 27, 2022 · 3 likes · 143 followers View post →
Abe
@a320enjoyer · X

@8008smcgee @HomicideHotline @greentexts_bot You're the one with burden of proof to show a study that does actually prove we can sense or produce pheromones Just for you tho here's a study saying it's almost all false positives and the compounds people say are pheromones aren't that https://t.co/CvZvGkXV5E

Sep 9, 2023 · 3 likes · 55 followers View post →
Cael
@PkCael · X

@Luismi_cervus Buscando ahora encontré un artículo de 2015 (solo dispongo del resumen) que menciona que todavía no se ha demostrado ni la existencia de hormonas ni su fisiología: https://t.co/gogGDYto7v

Jul 31, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 498 followers View post →
Stefano Papazian
@PapazianStefano · X

@Pdorrestein1 Wyatt 2015, The search for human pheromones: the lost decades and the necessity of returning to first principles https://t.co/SZuNCmLo4F

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 likes · 483 followers View post →
L12active
@l12active · X

@AbuAfiaAK @RebrandedSoup @malikbazille If I’m not mistaken no experts inferred from that study that the mechanism was pheromones and the current scientific position is neutral on whether pheromones exist. This study is a good read akhi: https://t.co/lFgmMoUbyu

Jan 4, 2025 · 1 like · 242 followers View post →

All mentions

Bronzedrip
@bronzedrip · X

@__mossymoss @TheMarxxxist No they don't https://t.co/MyDtcUl306 Perhaps learn the difference between Must Musk They are not the same

Jul 27, 2025 · 719 followers View post →
delco miku
@jadegotbeans · X

@citrusgirlpaige https://t.co/1TF27cJQBX

Mar 2, 2025 · 5 likes · 92 followers View post →
mangojioo
@mangoji_oo · X

@BarbettiJames @DrAllyLouks That study is flawed because the chemicals havd not been clearly identified as pheremones, and the amount used was a higher quantity than what is found in humans. There's no conclusive evidence of any human pheremone even if we think it's possible. https://t.co/dhAfSdNTu5 https://t.co/07lw9ZYIPF

Jan 9, 2025 · 49 followers View post →
mangojioo
@mangoji_oo · X

@NotRossCramer @vmonberets @DrAllyLouks No, she is not. We have not identified a chemical that works like a pheremone and we also have not identified any organ that works like pheremone detectors. It's still being researched but nothing conclusive has been found to date. https://t.co/dhAfSdNTu5

Jan 9, 2025 · 49 followers View post →
L12active
@l12active · X

@AbuAfiaAK @RebrandedSoup @malikbazille If I’m not mistaken no experts inferred from that study that the mechanism was pheromones and the current scientific position is neutral on whether pheromones exist. This study is a good read akhi: https://t.co/lFgmMoUbyu

Jan 4, 2025 · 1 like · 242 followers View post →
Abe
@a320enjoyer · X

@8008smcgee @greentexts_bot Humans are very unlikely to smell pheromones from other humans and even if we can it isn't anything proven with a smell compound or how we sense it https://t.co/CvZvGkXV5E

Sep 9, 2023 · 55 followers View post →
Abe
@a320enjoyer · X

@8008smcgee @HomicideHotline @greentexts_bot You're the one with burden of proof to show a study that does actually prove we can sense or produce pheromones Just for you tho here's a study saying it's almost all false positives and the compounds people say are pheromones aren't that https://t.co/CvZvGkXV5E

Sep 9, 2023 · 3 likes · 55 followers View post →
LandoyaDavis
@LandoyaD · X

@Architekt89 @WingsEcosse @Slatzism https://t.co/yY7Ll9oSuq

Feb 9, 2023 · 126 followers View post →
Ana
@maevenam · X

@BadMedicalTakes https://t.co/U07u4C2xzw

Sep 27, 2022 · 143 followers View post →
Ana
@maevenam · X

Everyone needs to read this. Every time the pheromone thing comes up I have to read the same nonsense tweets

Sep 27, 2022 · 1 like · 143 followers View post →
Ana
@maevenam · X

@The_Fancy_Squid @HawkInATX @meat_witch @BadMedicalTakes https://t.co/U07u4C2xzw https://t.co/t8BdvjF7ww

Sep 27, 2022 · 3 likes · 143 followers View post →
Cervus 林清睿
@Luismi_cervus · X

RT @PkCael: @Luismi_cervus Buscando ahora encontré un artículo de 2015 (solo dispongo del resumen) que menciona que todavía no se ha demost…

Jul 31, 2020 · 1 share · 1,033 followers View post →
Cael
@PkCael · X

@Luismi_cervus Buscando ahora encontré un artículo de 2015 (solo dispongo del resumen) que menciona que todavía no se ha demostrado ni la existencia de hormonas ni su fisiología: https://t.co/gogGDYto7v

Jul 31, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 498 followers View post →
Stefano Papazian
@PapazianStefano · X

@Pdorrestein1 Wyatt 2015, The search for human pheromones: the lost decades and the necessity of returning to first principles https://t.co/SZuNCmLo4F

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 likes · 483 followers View post →
Feromony U Ssaków | PDF | Sexual Reproduction | Pheromone
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wyniki rozrodu, co wyraziło się wzrostem liczby uro‑ Doi: 10.1098/rspb.2014.2994. dzonych prosiąt w miocie ogółem o 0,88 oraz urodzo‑ 12. Wyatt T.D. ...

Dec 29, 2025 View →
Pheromones: Types, Functions, and How They Work
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doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.2994. Stoyanov GS, Matev BK, Valchanov P, Sapundzhiev N, Young JR. The human vomeronasal (Jacobson's) organ: A short ...

Sep 18, 2025 View →
"Intangible attraction" is just a regulated nervous system : r/dating
Reddit

... 10.1098/rspb.1995.0087. Pheromones: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994 (while you're right that evidence for human ...

Jul 21, 2025 View →
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人間がフェロモンに反応するという科学的証拠はありません。 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994. 編集:ダウン ...

May 27, 2025 View →
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Reddit

There is no scientific evidence that humans react to pheromones. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994. Edit ...

May 27, 2025 View →
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Reddit

Nincs tudományos bizonyíték arra, hogy az emberek reagálnak a feromonokra. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994.

May 27, 2025 View →
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Reddit

İnsanların feromonlara tepki verdiğine dair bilimsel bir kanıt yok. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994.

May 27, 2025 View →
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Reddit

Takde bukti saintifik yang manusia ada tindak balas pada feromon. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994. Edit ...

May 27, 2025 View →
ELI5: Manusia boleh hidu/rasa feromon tak? : r/explainlikeimfive
Reddit

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994?download=true. Dua kajian yang sering disebut sebagai bukti terkuat yang ...

May 17, 2025 View →
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Reddit

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994?download=true. Два исследования, которые часто цитируются как наиболее ...

May 17, 2025 View →
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Reddit

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994?download=true. Two studies which have often been cited as the strongest ...

May 17, 2025 View →
My bf stinks : r/TrueOffMyChest
Reddit

... -pheromones · https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994 · https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.a.20125 · More replies.

Aug 22, 2024 View →
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Blogs

... 10.1098/rspb.2014.2994. | Arşiv Bağlantısı. 8. Şikayet Et; Mantık Hatası. 0. Paylaş; Alıntıla; Alıntıları Göster.

Nov 18, 2023 View →
Do Pheromones Work? Androstadienone and Androstenone : r ...
Reddit

... 10.1098/rspb.2014.2994). [^3^]: [PLOS ONE](https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062499). [^4^]: [Neuropsychopharmacology](https://dx.doi ...

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Mar 31, 2022 View →
Im a bit drunk but I have a question. My girlfriend smells awesome + ...
Reddit

Do your research mate https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994 There is a ton of evidence to suggest. Big one being ...

Jan 28, 2022 View →
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Reddit

... .sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301211504004749 · https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2014.2994 · mrsamsa. • 7y ...

Mar 29, 2019 View →
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