The numbers don’t lie: America is exhausted from swiping. A 2024 Forbes Health survey found that 78% of dating app users feel “emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted” by them per Global Dating Insights, with 79% of Gen Z reporting dating app burnout. As the digital dating landscape grows increasingly frustrating, some singles are looking beyond their screens—toward something more primal.
The Great Dating App Exodus
The dissatisfaction runs deep. According to the Forbes survey, 40% of respondents said the inability to find a good connection was the biggest factor in their exhaustion, source: Study Finds. Rejection, repetitive conversations, and endless swiping have left millions feeling hopeless about finding meaningful relationships through traditional apps.
Major platforms are feeling the impact. A 2024 Ofcom report shows Tinder lost 594,000 users, Hinge dropped by 131,000, and Bumble by 368,000 between May 2023 and May 2024 Yahoo!. The novelty, it seems, has worn off.
Gen Z dating coach Rae Weiss explains that this generation is moving away from dating apps because swiping feels “transactional, laborious and scripted.” Newsweek The result? A generation “craving authenticity and meaningful interaction” and actively seeking alternatives.
Enter the Pheromone Renaissance
Into this void steps an unlikely contender: pheromone-based products. Companies like Royal Pheromones are positioning themselves as an alternative for those tired of the digital dating grind, offering what they describe as “science-based attraction.”
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The company distinguishes its products from typical fragrances by emphasizing that real pheromone products must contain synthesized human-identical molecules like Androstenone, Androsterone, and Androstenol in specific concentrations. Royal Pheromones According to their marketing, each compound serves a different purpose: Androstenone creates sexual tension and dominance, Androstenol creates social lubrication, and Androsterone adds “respect without the aggression.” Royal Pheromones
The Science—and Skepticism
The concept isn’t new. Pheromones are chemical signals secreted by individuals that can influence social behaviors, including mate selection. Research has shown that pheromones can convey information about genetic compatibility. RelationshipInsights
The famous “sweaty t-shirt experiment” from the 1990s and subsequent studies suggested that humans may be subconsciously attracted to potential partners based on scent. Science has shown that we are subconsciously attracted to the natural odor and pheromones of another with a different DNA makeup than ours—in a way that is more likely to produce healthy offspring. Science of Essentials
However, the science remains contested. Human pheromones have never been definitively proven to attract people to each other—some scientists argue they might not even exist in the way marketers claim. Inverse A 2017 study published in Royal Society Open Science found that participants exposed to steroids believed to be human pheromones experienced no increased levels of attraction.
Royal Pheromones itself acknowledges that “scientific research on human chemosignaling is ongoing with no guaranteed effects” and that “human attraction is determined by numerous factors beyond chemosignaling alone.” Royal Pheromones
Read more Reviews of Royal Pheromones.
Why It Resonates Now
Despite the scientific uncertainty, the appeal is understandable. In an era where 350+ million people worldwide use dating apps yet most report dissatisfaction, the idea of attraction that works on a biological level—no profile optimization required—holds obvious appeal.
Dr. Jennie Rosie, an associate professor at James Madison University, notes that “Gen Zers want serious, long-term relationships” but “feel pressured by dismissive dating norms to adopt more casual practices.” This disconnect between what people want and what apps seem to deliver fuels the search for alternatives.
Royal Pheromones frames its mission simply: “help men and women step into their power. Not through false promises or cheap tricks, but through legitimate pheromone science that enhances natural human chemistry.” Royal Pheromones
The Bigger Picture
The interest in pheromones is part of a broader movement away from algorithm-driven dating. Singles are becoming more “experimental” in their dating choices, with stigma disappearing around speed-dating, matchmaking services, and other “old-school” methods. Women’s Health
Dating apps aren’t disappearing—the market is valued at approximately $13.1 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $21.9 billion by 2031 Catfishfinder. But users are demanding more. Major platforms like Bumble have launched in-person event offerings CNBC, acknowledging that digital-only connection isn’t enough.
Whether pheromone products deliver on their promises remains an open question. But their growing visibility reflects something real: a generation worn down by shallow connections and willing to try just about anything to find authentic chemistry—even if it comes in a bottle.
Source: BigNewsNetwork Dating App Fatigue with Pheromones
