Pheromones are the smell chemicals that signal sexual attraction or repulsion. No matter how much you like someone, if they do not smell good to you, the sexual attraction just doesn’t work. It’s said that women on birth control pills will subconsciously seek out men who smell like good protectors and fathers because the pill simulates pregnancy. But sometimes when these women go off the pill, they suddenly find their mate doesn’t smell attractive anymore. Bummer!
In conclusion: the attraction chemicals fade at about 2 to 3 years and are replaced by the bonding chemicals. The bonding chemicals actually interfere with the exciting “in love” chemicals and create a more “comfortable” bonding love which lasts another few years.
Evolutionarily, the theory is that the couple stays together long enough to raise a child out of infancy. Then both men and women (yes, women are not built for monogamy either) move on and repeat the process. It’s good for the gene pool.
So, if you are addicted to the love/lust chemical high, it’s very important to keep your sexual and romantic life exciting and new. How to do that? Well, that’s a good question for a relationship/marriage counselor!
Resources: The Chemistry of Love” by Dr. Susan Block http://www.counterpunch.org/block02122005.html “The Science of Love Cupid’s Chemistry” by Claire McLoughlin http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/clairemcloughlincolumn1.htm/ Labels: chemistry, love, relationships, self-improvement, sexuality