In 1959, researchers coined the word “pheromone” to describe certain substances

produced by the glands of animals. (The Smell Book) Pheromones are chemical messengers that are essential to communication. The chemical pheromone, which gives each person his or her unique body smell, is a very powerful scent. Animals also produce pheromones. They affect an animal’s behavior, ways they communicate and how they mark their territory. Insects also produce pheromones, which are used as a defense mechanism and a communication system for reproduction. (Britannica) Humans also produce pheromones.

The purpose of my experiment was to prove whether or not parents could identify

their child’s shirt, from other shirts of children of similar age, using only their sense of

smell. I also tested whether or not parents can tell the difference between the smells of all their children.

The materials that I need for this experiment were five individuals of the same gender and one of

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In this Bible verse, Isaac uses his sense of smell to identify what he believes to be his son Esau. When Isaac smelled the scent of his raiment and blessed Jacob, he thought he was blessing his son Esau. Jacob had used his brother’s clothing which had the odors and subliminal scents known as pheromones, belonging to Esau to fool his father.

their parents, five brand new t-shirts, and five plastic bags. I also need another set of parents and their children, five more t-shirts and five additional plastic bags. The procedure for this experiment follows: Each of the children wore their shirt to bed for five nights. They did not use any type of scented lotions, perfume, etc. After this five-day period, they placed their shirts into a plastic bag and one of their parents smelled each shirt and indicated which shirt they believed belonged to their child. I also conducted an experiment with my siblings and I. We all wore the same t-shirts to bed for five nights. After the fifth night we placed the shirts in a plastic bag and my parents smelled them and determined which shirt was worn by each child.

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Pheromones can also be used as a defense mechanism. The scent of bee venom will facilitate the stinging of humans or other hairy animals. If a single bee sends off a chemical “alarm” signal, this may send a whole hive into a state of attack. (Britannica) Termites and ants both have this same defense pheromone that they release in a time of defense. Ants produce them with a special gland, which they use to alert their colonies to invaders or other dangers.

the well-known urination patterns of canines and felines. The urine contains pheromones that are detected by other members of the same species, and indicate to the recipient that he or she is trespassing. All dispersal pheromones are not released from urine. Rabbits release them from a gland located in their chin and many other species release them from glands located near their anus. (Hughes)

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