What Do We Mean by Sexual Chemistry?

Is sexual chemistry a real thing?

Sexual chemistry.  Have you ever thought about whether in fact such a thing exists, or is it just something dreamed up by Hollywood, Agony Aunts and bodice-ripping romance writers?  Let’s see what we can find out about sexual chemistry and hear from people who have experienced it.

Guess what?  It is indeed a real thing!

Most of us know that instinctively that sexual chemistry is a very, very real thing. But is there real proof of its existence?  

There are indeed thousands of legitimate research papers which document the reality of sexual chemistry.  The subject has fascinated scientists and other researchers for decades and inspired writers, poets, artists and songwriters since time immemorial.

A spark ignites the fire

Think about it.  Usually, you see that certain someone from afar–across the dance floor, at a different table, across the aisle on a flight, waiting for the elevator, in your study group.  That initial spark can happen literally anywhere.

And sexual chemistry does not depend on simply the sense of sight.  Pam Oakes described meeting her husband in graduate school, “I heard this deep voice from somewhere behind where I was sitting in my sociolinguistics class.  Honestly, I had never paid any attention to how someone sounds, but this voice was, how do I describe it?

Deep and rich. I just instantly knew that I had to find out who that voice belonged to; it was just so amazing.  I furtively kept turning around trying to figure out who it was, and he finally raised his hand to answer a question.

After class, I sought him out, something that was so out of character for me. And it was like two pieces of a puzzle fitting together. That instinct was spot on. We were married the next year! And all because of that resonant baritone voice of his.”

Chemistry involves all the senses

Another sense is taste.  The sense of taste largely depends on the sense of smell. (Think back to your last cold when your nose was blocked. You could not taste anything, right?) And would you believe that this sense provided the ignition switch for Roland Kwintek, 36, and Gwen Raines, 32?

Both met when they were working in a vineyard hospitality centre where their job was to educate wine country visitors about the different wines that were produced at the vineyard.  “I noticed right away that she knew so much more than me about the different vintages.

Gwen’s nose could discern everything about wines there was to know, and she was happy to pass on her knowledge not only to the tourists but also to me. I fell in love with her sense of smell, first, and then her total being.

As I tell people at work: wine is one type of chemistry, and falling in love with Gwen was another type of chemistry. ”

And more on the smell

Zara Barrie, a writer for several publications, defines sexual chemistry as “It’s a glorious high unparalleled to anything else in the entire universe. It’s intoxicating. It’s addictive.

It’s when we feel blissfully drunk, positively inebriated from the way a person smells.”

Smell is one of the most evocative of senses, so it stands to reason that sexual chemistry can sometimes be initiated by just the sense of smell.

You may have heard of pheromones. With animals, pheromones are scent signals that elicit specific behaviors or responses, including sexual arousal.  So why not the same in humans?

Do humans have pheromones? Unfortunately, there is absolutely no scientific proof that humans do have these.  However, Kelly Gildersleeve, a post-doctoral research fellow at Chapman University in California, feels somewhat differently saying “I think that scent and scent communication do play important roles in human sexuality.”

For a deeper look into this interesting topic, you will find more information here.

Does sexual chemistry fade over time?

Alas, over time many things may fade: the color of your favorite sweater, your perfume or cologne, the sharp flavors of certain foods, your hair color and your makeup.

Generally, these sorts of fading diminish the object and make it less than whole.  However, sometimes fading is a good thing. Think about your favorite jeans: the more faded they become, the nicer and more comfortable they are to wear. There is a whole industry out there which makes pre-faded jeans and other clothing, so fading is not necessarily a negative experience.  It can be a value-added or enhancing experience.

And so it is with sexual chemistry

There is nothing at all similar to that first rush of sexual chemistry. Many people, in fact, have described it as a drug.

Barrie describes her experience with it like this, “Sexual attraction feels chemical, like a drug. It’s a glorious high unparalleled to anything else in the entire universe. It’s intoxicating. It’s addictive.

It’s when we feel blissfully drunk, positively inebriated.”

So what happens with sexual chemistry?

Yes, unequivocally, that intense blowtorch of feelings which result from the ignition of sexual chemistry does fade in time.  But as with the faded jeans, it does not have to be a bad thing at all. It would be very hard to sustain that high level of passion and attend to all the other things which must be attended to in life.

All that mundane activity, grocery shopping, doing the laundry, paying bills, still has to be part of your life, as do the vital activities of work, taking care of previous commitments, and keeping up with family and friends.  

No matter how intense that first rush of sexual chemistry feels, it will change over time. The question is how to sustain the best parts of it, and enhance the changing feelings.

What is the timeline here?

Researchers agree that after two to three months of regular dating, the bloom is off the rose, i.e. the sexual chemistry is beginning to lessen. Couples will often have their first serious argument at this time.

Little things which you could just overlook and ignore before, may become really bothersome.  This may be the best time to evaluate your feelings toward your newish partner.

The greater maturity with the couple, the higher the chances are that what began red hot, will continue and evolve into a slightly less red hot but supportive, satisfying and sustaining relationship.