Pheromone

Pheromones are chemical signals released by an organism that affect the behaviour of other members of the same species (although they can also be sensed and responded to by unrelated organisms). Although they are especially-well studied in insect species, they are also thought to be used by many plants and vertebrates, with some evidence suggesting that humans exchange pheromone signals too.

The name Pheromone comes from the Greek words pherein (to transport) and hormone (to stimulate), and Pheromones are perhaps best explained to a lay audience as exchangeable hormones.