About This Video

Pheromones are chemicals secreted by an organism that trigger a social response in members of the same species. Hive insects such as bees and ants rely on these chemical signals to direct the group to a goal or raise an alarm. Since their discovery, scientists have tried to deduce what sort of behaviors human pheromones induce to varying results. But is it possible to paint a pheromone on something to get an immediate social reaction? Scent psychologist Avery Gilbert believes that efforts should be focused elsewhere, much to the chagrin of olfactory scientist Leslie Vosshall.
More videos from this series: Scents and Sensibilities