Our Primal Scents

Body odor – Or so our scents are classified as, generally, these days. I would rather refer to these odorous chemicals as, our pheromones; Rightfully so, as that is what they are.

Pheromones are secreted/excreted chemical factors that trigger a response in members of the same species. We all react to the smell of another, through some kind of judgement (attraction, disgust, curiosity, etc.) correct? These chemicals, pheromones, act outside of the body of the secreting individual provoking a behavioral response in the receiver. By the receiver, I mean, the person in contact with whom is secreting pheromones. Here are the derivatives of the word, pheromone: Pherein (to transport) and hormone (to stimulate). Transporting stimuli is exactly what they are!

There are several kinds of pheromones which we produce. One is the alarm pheromone, which only some species secrete upon being attacked. Many are aware of the polyphenols in plants called tannins, which are released upon their consumption by another species. The tannins bind the proteins and amino acids in the plant, causing them to be indigestible by us. Well, you could guess it… These tannins are the plants alarm pheromones! Could it be, perhaps, their attempt at conveying their not wanting to be eaten?! There are several different pheromones produced by species to mark or guard their territories, such as territorial pheromones, aggregation pheromones, and information pheromones.

Here is the juicy one – What this post is all about… The Sex pheromones. We both secrete them; Women and Men. They aid in our attracting one another, as well as the function of the female reproductive system. A wild study was done by researchers in Philadelphia, in which extracted male pheromones were taped to the upper lip of several Women. All of their menstrual cycles regulated. Who knew… The masculine scent can aid in our hormonal regularity! At the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, their studies showed that Women who had sex with Men at least once a week, had more regulated cycles, had higher fertility rates, and milder menopausal symptoms in comparison to Women who rarely had sex.

I chart my menstrual cycle daily, tracking the each day individually, while calculating my fertility. I have spoken previously about how I was without my cycle for quite sometime. Well, since I have had it back with pretty exact regularity, I took note of something interesting potentially taking place. I read the study above, about male pheromones influencing Women’s cycles. Aside from one month since November, I have had a regulated cycle while I have also been spending time with the same man every two weeks, relatively. Our visits always land when I am ovulating, or when I am menstruating. Could our regular time together, and his potent pheromones have influenced the regulating of my cycle? Well, among other things, I think it may have played a role! Making this connection, that could perhaps be influencing my hormone balance was really cool!

It is interesting to me, the way that Women tend to try and cover up their pheromones. I can understand why, I suppose, for our odors tend to be categorized as body hair is, in society: Dirty. If someone has an odor to them, generally they are thought to be “smelly” or “dirty”. Yes, there is a difference between not showering and actually being dirty, and the natural pheromones we produce all day long, even after showering. Personally, I love the smell my body secretes. It is a natural secretion from my temple! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy complimenting my own scents with fragrant essential oils. However, perfumes? Really?! Most perfumes are composed of dozens of toxic, xeno-estrogenic, chemicals and even a bit smells like too much. How about encouraging your own beautiful scent with natural oils instead?

Quick aside – Knowing this information about our pheromone secretions, I pay attention to when my scents are strongest or the changes that they make. I have found that when I am around the Man that I am attracted to, my body secretes a very potent scent which he always seems to notice. Am I calling in the sexual exchange? On a day-to basis without seeing him, my pheromones are extremely tame, and almost non-existent! Wow! Another time when my pheromones are strong, is when I spend time around powerful Women, high with feminine energy. The higher the energy is amongst us, the more potent the smells are! One time in particular, after at Women’s empowerment event that was completely full-on, I left feeling really grounded in my sexual feminine nature and my pheromones were totally over the top! Like, seriously… So potent. It blew my mind, making it so obvious what kind of energies and environments influence the secretion of our “sex scents”.

Majority of Men I have spoken to about the smells Women produce, absolutely love it! They think the smells are sexy… Maybe because they are sex hormones being transported to the male, via scent? I’d say so! I must say, a man with his intoxicating pheromones radiating off of him is freaking HOT! I mean, come on… Their primal scents actually aid our hormonal health. SWEET! Talk about the right reasons to embrace the Divine Masculine!

Anyway, I thought it important to share my thoughts and research on this amazing chemical exchange we have between sexes. We actually draw one another through our bodily scents. How primal