Perfume Industry and the Sixth Sense

Abstract
The influence of compounds 5alpha-Androstan-3-one, 5alpha-Androst-16-en-3Beta-ol, 5alpha-Androst-16en-3alpha-ol, 5alpha-Androst-16-en-3-one, Androsta-4,16-dien-3-one, Androsta-5,16-dien-3beta-ol, Estriol, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3-ol on the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of women and men was examined. Readings were taken using an electrovomerograph (EVG). Only two of the compounds studied significantly stimulate the vomeronasal organ: estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3-ol (Estratetraenol) and androsta-4,16-dien-3-one (Androstadienone). Androstadienone is a strong odorant detected by the olfactory epithelium. Estratetraenol is completely odorless. VNO responses show strong sex dimorphism. Men are particularly sensitive to Estratetraenol, while women are sensitive to Androstadienone. Androstadienone stimulates the VNO, which is a fully functional organ in humans, in subthreshold amounts not detectable by the traditional sense of smell.