Is it true that pheromones/chemistry have more impact on attraction than physical appearances?

I don’t think so. Pheromones probably used to have a stronger effect long ago when humans resembled animals more in terms of their actions. ie. when humans used to hunt for food, etc.
I think it’s because humans relied on such instincts to find the best possible mate in order to produce genetically strong offspring.This is another reinforcement of the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’.

Now people don’t really rely on pheromones to such an extent. However they do play a small role. But I think attraction relies on your personal preference rather than pheromones.
Perfume has replaced pheromones. :)

Oh and I’ve been told that sometimes sweat is subconsciously attractive because it contains lots of pheromones apparently.. Not the smelly one, though.

From my perspective yes, it is possible. I can’t speak for everyone but if I don’t like how a guy tastes/smells it doesn’t bode well for our future together.

Example: When I was living in New York I had a date with a beyond GORGEOUS man. I’m not exaggerating either, he was a male model with an impressive portfolio of clients and very conventionally attractive by most people’s standards. Anyway, when he kissed me, he didn’t necessarily taste ‘bad’ but he didn’t taste/smell ‘right’ for me if that makes sense. I didn’t accept an second date from him. I’ve fallen hard for unconventional looking guys who I have great chemistry with. But, my current boyfriend is both gorgeous and tasty in my opinion. :)

Nah. With me it’s personality and intellect. If I’m drawn to the brains I’ll take whatever taste I get.

Not that I don’t appreciate everyone weighing in with their own opinions and personal experiences, I always like to hear what people think, I’m really kind of curious to know if there is any science behind this claim, or if it was just pulled out of thin air.

There is some science behind it. I remember a study from college that showed a correlation between the pheremones and what some people found attractive.

I’m not sure pheromones or body odor is an attractor but it can certainly be a detractor. There are so many products on the market including soap and water, that cover odors.

When we first see a potential partner we immediately begin judging their appearance, manner and bearing. It takes time for the pheromone molecules (if any) to reach us. Appearance, manner and bearing reach us at the speed of light. Pheromone suffer from the vagaries of modern life: air purifiers, perfumes, weakened sens of smell from smoking , colognes, wind currents.
There was a study within the past 5–10 years that had men an women smell T-shorts worn by potential mates. Despite what the Axe commercials imply, I remember the conclusions were very iffy.
Be clean, stand straight, smile and you are way more attractive than the sulking person bathed in Ambush, or Chnl #5.
For me, it’s the aroma of toothpaste and Dial soap that causes me to salivate and brings me to tumescence.

It’s true for me.

It would explain why I feel attracted to some odd people, who I couldn’t figure out why.

It seems that, in humans, the functionality of the organ which detects pheromone and relays the signals to the hypothalamus is under debate. The organ is located in the base of the nasal cavity and it’s called the vomeronasal organ (VNO), or Jacobson’s organ. Too much to explain but here is my source if you’d like to read more about the science of pheromones. It’s very interesting.
A few quotes from the above:
“Chemical communication does appear to occur among humans, but this does not necessarily imply that the human vomeronasal organ is functional”
“Many studies have been performed to determine whether there is an actual presence of a VNO in adult human beings….. there is no reported evidence that human beings have active sensory neurons like those in working vomeronasal systems of other animals.[21][39] Furthermore, there is no evidence to date that suggests there are nerve and axon connections between any existing sensory receptor cells that may be in the adult human VNO and the brain. Likewise, there is no evidence for any accessory olfactory bulb in adult human beings, and the key genes involved in VNO function in other mammals have pseudogeneized in human beings. Therefore while the presence of a structure in adult human beings is debated, a review of the scientific literature by Tristram Wyatt concluded, “most in the field… are sceptical about the likelihood of a functional VNO in adult human beings on current evidence.”

That’s the science but I agree with everyone who’s said that if someone doesn’t smell right and that is not necessarily saying they smell bad but that they don’t smell right it is a reall deterrent to sexual attraction.

I think that predominantly that is the way we chose mates long long ago. I have never been extremely attracted to someone that I also didn’t like the way their BO smells. Mmm.

It is one of my bars. I like to smell a potential mate, not his products but him when he feels the need to shower. It can be a huge turn off or on.
Maybe I’m more animal. : )

I have been attracted to some fairly unattractive fellows, but I think it’s their brains, not their pheremones, but I could be wrong.