# Riley, ‘Pheromones Are Probably Not Why People Find You Attractive’, 2016 > [!cite] > Riley, Alex. ‘Pheromones Are Probably Not Why People Find You Attractive.’ Future. *BBC*, 9 May 2016. [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160509-the-tantalising-truth-about-sex-pheromones](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160509-the-tantalising-truth-about-sex-pheromones). --- ‘The term pheromone was coined in 1959. Peter Karlson and Martin Luscher, two researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Munich, Germany, argued that within the cloud of molecules produced by animals some were more special than others. They were similar to hormones within the blood, but emitted away from the body, influencing the behaviour and physiology of others. Rather than just odours – a broad term for molecules that can elicit a spectrum of responses – pheromones were shaped over evolutionary time between members of the same species for a precise purpose.’ [[Riley, ‘Pheromones Are Probably Not Why People Find You Attractive’, 2016|(Riley 2016)]] ^31647c ‘Importantly, secretions taken from unrelated mothers can elicit the same suckling response, eliminating the possibility that the babies were just accustomed to their mother’s distinctive odours.’ [[Riley, ‘Pheromones Are Probably Not Why People Find You Attractive’, 2016|(Riley 2016)]] ^bc19fb ‘And in 2009, a study hinted at a possible point of interest. When breastfeeding, the [areolar glands that encircle a mother’s nipple](http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007579%20) swell and secrete an accessory liquid to milk. When placed under the nose of babies, a stereotyped behaviour follows. They open their mouths, stick out their tongue, and start to suck. They try to feed.’ [[Riley, ‘Pheromones Are Probably Not Why People Find You Attractive’, 2016|(Riley 2016)]] ^902ce7