Labramson1, there’s no reason you shouldn’t experiment with putatives – so long as you understand the definition of the word “putative” and you are not disappointed or turned off to pheromones when some of them just don’t perform as you’d hoped.
I think they prefer newbies to begin with the commercial products because they know they will work. And they know how they will work. Of course, everybody’s experience is a little different. Most of the commercial products are a combination of several pheromones to accomplish a goal.
Once you are accepted as a reporting member you get a (usually fairly small) discount on the putatives and experimones. The bar isn’t that high. After you get in the habit of showing up on the forum for a while ask Steve or Tisha to change your status. I think 50 posts used to be the time when they made that consideration, but it’s not rigid. Then you get the discount and when you order they’ll often throw in a free gift that they want more feedback on.
In my experience, there are only two or three putatives that just don’t seem to do anyting. Most of them have some very interesting (if less completely understood) effects. But, of course, you can’t complain if they don’t do what you want them to…
If you’ve learned to notice the effects of the pheros you already have, go ahead, if you want, and order a putative that interests you. And then make a note on the forum about your experiences.