Pheromones are chemical signals released by an animal that trigger a behavioural response in another of the same species. They are detected largely through the vomeronasal organ rather than the sense of smell, which is why a pheromone product is judged on the behaviour it changes, not the scent it carries. Our raw materials are synthetic analogues — molecules that reproduce the signalling fraction of a natural secretion so it can be manufactured at consistent quality and scale.

Feline Facial Pheromone: The F Fractions

The feline facial pheromone is a mixture secreted by sebaceous glands on a cat’s cheeks, chin and muzzle, deposited when a cat rubs its face against objects to mark the environment as familiar and safe. Analytical work has resolved this secretion into a set of functional fractions commonly labelled F1 to F5. Only one of them underpins calm-marking behaviour — the F3 fraction — and F3 is therefore the active at the core of most cat-calming sprays, diffusers and collars on the market.

F3 Composition

F3 is not a single molecule but a fatty-acid system. Its relative composition matters, because the fatty-acid ratio is what separates a reproducible analogue from an arbitrary blend. Published work on the analysis of commercial F3 products — including patent filings such as EP3237012B1, which reproduced the composition of a leading F3 product — reports broadly the following make-up:

Dog Appeasing Pheromone: DAP

The dog appeasing pheromone is secreted by the sebaceous glands in the inter-mammary sulcus of lactating bitches during the first weeks of a puppy’s life, where it signals safety and reassurance to the litter. A synthetic analogue — referred to as DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) — reproduces the signalling fraction of that secretion.

Like the feline system, DAP is a fatty-acid mixture rather than a single compound. Commercial products based on DAP are typically supplied as a concentrated emulsion that is either diluted into sprays or filled into diffusers and collars, at concentrations around 2% w/w of the active blend. The analogue is used to reduce behaviours grounded in insecurity: separation anxiety, destructive behaviour, excessive vocalisation and noise phobia.

From Active to Product: Encapsulation

Fatty-acid actives are volatile. Left bare in a liquid, they flash off within hours — which is why an undelivered pheromone product dries out long before its claimed duration. Encapsulation converts the active into a controlled-release system: the molecules are held inside a cyclodextrin cavity or a polymer matrix and released gradually over the life of the product.

See the full carrier line and specifications →

Quality Control

A pheromone analogue is only reproducible if its composition is measured. We characterise the active blend by gas chromatography (GC-FID / GC-MS) to confirm the fatty-acid ratio, and control the finished carrier by laser diffraction for particle size and by gravimetric methods for loading. Each batch ships with:

• Certificate of Analysis (COA) — fatty-acid fraction profile and key physical parameters
• MSDS — safety data in the destination market’s required format
• Particle-size distribution report for encapsulated formats
• Release-profile curve where a duration claim is involved

Common Misconceptions

• “Pheromones work by smell.” They are mainly detected through the vomeronasal organ; a product can be almost odourless and still work.
• “Any fatty-acid blend will do.” The ratio matters. An arbitrary blend may smell similar but will not reproduce the signalling effect or the claim.
• “A stronger concentration is better.” Over-dosing does not improve the behavioural response and raises cost; the carrier and release profile usually matter more than raw concentration.
• “It is a medicine.” It is a behavioural-support product. Correct positioning, not pharmacological claims, is what keeps it compliant and sellable across markets.