Anticholinergic plants of the family Solanaceae have a long history of use as medicines, poisons, and recreational drugs. Though they were the intoxicating substances of choice throughout Europe for centuries, their use for these purposes has declined with the globalisation of other recreational drugs. The present study sought to examine the level of knowledge surrounding these plants among individuals who had used other hallucinogenic plants or mushrooms in Slovenia. Participants were questioned in regards to the anticholinergic Solanaceae that are known to grow wild in Slovenia:Atropa belladonnaL.,Datura stramoniumL.,Hyoscyamus nigerL., andScopolia carniolicaL. As expected, only a small number of individuals had any substantial knowledge of these plants, and fewer still had used them; some were even unfamiliar with any of these plants. Knowledge of toxicity generally arose from family members, while books and the internet played prominent roles in regards to use knowledge. Knowledge of the plants was vastly varied, with many individuals confusing the plants for others, especially other members of the Solanaceae. Ultimately, a small group of individuals had the largest body of knowledge of these plants, though this was linked with university studies rather than traditional uses. Knowledge of the intoxicating Solanaceae has been largely lost in Slovenia among users of other botanical hallucinogens, likely due to the various dangers their use poses and the undesirable effects they often cause.

The present study examined the patterns of use among a sample of 68 users of hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms in Slovenia. In compiling the lists of all the participants, 26 different plants/mushrooms, mixtures, or products were found to have been used. The main reason for beginning to use these substances was curiosity, and most people began using them in their 20s. The most used werePsilocybespp., being mentioned by approximately 91% of the participants; 50% of the respondents in the study had made use of no other natural hallucinogens besides these. Many of the plants or mushrooms were used only a small number of times. No matter what items had been used, the internet often played a role in first hearing about them. Dosing and the means of using the various hallucinogens were often quite varied, as were the settings where they were taken. Knowledge of the dangers of these hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms as well as their occurrence in nature were likewise vastly varied. Though public opinion often associates the use of mind-altering substances with problematic drug use and partying, the majority of the individuals interviewed seemed to present a greater desire to experience the interesting effects, to overcome personal difficulties, and for individual and spiritual growth.

Odour perception, and particularly body odour perception, is involved in many behavioural patterns related to reproduction. In this research, odour perception of isolated substances was compared in different phases of the menstrual cycle. 229 women (and 62 men for comparison) assessed the intensity, pleasantness, and attractiveness of 17 substances (6 components of body odour, 2 pheromones, 8 musks, and spermine). Variation in odour perception between males and females was most obvious in regard to body odours, with females tending to perceive higher intensity, lower pleasantness, and lower attractiveness than their male counterparts. Perception of the odours in females significantly changed during the menstrual cycle only for three substances: improved perception of musk (ambroxide) during the follicular (fertile) phase, as well as for body odour components methyl nonanoate and methyl octanoate during the luteal (non-fertile) phase.