A queen bee uses them to control her workers. A boar harnesses them to prepare a sow for mating. Female moths deploy them as a beacon for males. And young humans are now spraying them on, hoping to drive their dates wild with lust.
Pheromones play a key role in the animal kingdom by sending out chemical signals between members of the same species, including to help attract mates.
Despite a lack of solid evidence that humans can produce or detect pheromones — or that they play any role in human sexual attraction — there is a growing market for perfumes and massage oils infused with substances designed to mimic the effect of pheromones among animals.
Wearers hope the products will have a similar effect