AbstractWhile it has been reported that most, if not all, very young children are able to detect the odor of 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3‐one (androstenone), approximately 40–50% of human adults cannot detect its odor. The present study focused on changes in sensitivity to androstenone was determined in 247 subjects aged 6 to 50. There was a significant increase in the number of males anosmic to androstenone between 9–14 and 15–20 years of age, and a significant increase in threshold with age among males able to detect the odor. We infer that a smaller percentage of females than males becomes anosmic to the odor of androstenone during development, and those able to detect it apparently show a decrease in threshold with age. No age‐related changes were observed in tests of pyridine or d, l, ‐β‐phenylethylmethylethyl‐carbinol (PEMEC).