Pheromones

Definition: scent given off by everyone in the omegaverse no matter the primary or secondary gender. It is produced primarily by glands on either side of the neck and on each wrist.

Depending on who is releasing them and who is sensing them, pheromones can have many different effects on people. These include, but are not limited to, calming one down, expressing ones emotions, and attracting a mate.

Pheromones are often emitted unconciously in stressful or sensual situations. Although with practice, people can fully control their pheromones during everyday life.

Each person's pheromones are unique, much like our fingerprints. The secondary gender of a person can also play a role in the scent of their pheromones. For example, many alphas have stronger scents with woodsy undertones while betas tend to have lighter, more airy ones.

People can often identify other people by the smell of their pheromones, and when meeting a new person, some use pheromones along with appearance to figure out their secondary gender. In recent years, however, this has become frowned upon by society, and many people use medication and perfumes to alter the pheromones they give off, so it isn't very accurate.

When a couple is married and/or mated, it is customary for them to scent each other. This is a process that mixes the pheromones of each party and signifies that they are together. This is not something that can be performed without the consent of both parties. Typically, this will last for two to three weeks. The effect fades gradually over this period and is barely noticeable the day before it ends.

The medications and perfumes mentioned earlier are refered to as pheromone blockers, but it is impossible to fully block out or change a person's pheromones. They are used to help those who wish to mask their scent rather than block it completely. The average person uses these in combination with their own control to prevent excess pheromones from affecting those around them. Even people that have exceptional control over their pheromones are not able to stop their pheromone production completely, they can only suppress or amplify them. But it is very possible to reduce them to a nearly undetectable state.