Human pheromones produced naturally in our bodies have now found their way into perfumes. The most recent product for women was released earlier this month. Science Specialist Ed Yeates joins us live from the newsroom. Is this good idea?

Depends on the kind of pheromone used. A pheromone is a natural chemical emitted from our body which when inhaled through the nose, produces an actual physical response in the brain. So far, the HUMAN compounds discovered by a Utah research team are producing a more calming and relaxing response in users.

Animals release pheromones all the time to attract other animals. They can also trigger aggressive behavior during the mating season. But human pheromones are much more sophisticated, more subtle! Joni Lunt is wearing a new perfume containing a female human pheromone. Does it work?

((JONI LUNT: "WELL I'VE BEEN ONE THAT HASN'T BEEN APPROACHED OR THAT BY MEN AND THE WEEKEND I USED THE PRODUCT I HAD MORE ATTENTION THAN I USUALLY GET."))

But did the pheromone really produce that response or was it more of a change within Joni herself.

(("I FELT MORE CONFIDENT. MY SELF ESTEEM WENT UP.."))

That emotional response is what Utah researchers have documented. Once inside the nose a pheromone goes directly to this small pouch located in both sides of the nasal cavity. From here, it sends a message directly to the brain to release certain hormones.

In double blind studies, Utah researchers documented actual physical and emotional changes in volunteers using pheromone laced perfumes.

((DR CLIVE JENNINGS-WHITE, PHERIN CORPORATION: "WE FOUND THAT ALL THOSE FEELINGS YOU MIGHT DESCRIBE AS NEGATIVE WERE DECREASED. SO PEOPLE ACTUALLY FELT BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES."))

So what might happen if you took a more potent dose of a bi-product derived from specific pheromones and gave it to a patient suffering from an emotional illness.

(("BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TINKER AROUND WITH THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE MOLECULES TO MAKE FAR MORE POTENT COMPOUNDS THAT REALLY MAY HAVE A PHARMACEUTICAL EFFECT - A MEDICINAL EFFECT SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TREAT SOMEONE WITH DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.))

The research team here is even looking at the possibility of using pheromones in contraceptives.

(("WE KNOW THAT IN DIFFERENT ANIMALS, THERE ARE ACTUALLY PHEROMONES THAT AFFECT FERTILITY."))

And for men, a pheromone might tell the brain to cut the production of testosterone, slowing down or stopping the growth of prostate cancer.

((DR LUIS MONTI-BLOCH M.D.: "WE CAN APPLY TO THE NOSE AND RAPIDLY LOWER IN A MATTER OF A HALF AN HOUR..WE CAN LOWER THE PLASMA LEVELS OF A GLUTENIZING HORMONE AND TESTOSTERONE."))

Pherin researchers have yet to discover a human pheromone which is the TRUE aphrodisiac. But even if they do, they won't use it in a perfume.. Too dangerous, they say, because it might prompt an aggressive response a woman or a man doesn't want!