This study investigated whether volatile components of human waste, such as dandruff and sebum, would attract Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, commonly referred to as house dust mites, which cause allergic symptoms. This study found that: 1) D. pteronyssinus was attracted by extracts from both a used-pillow cover and house dust; 2) nonanal, decanal and acetic acid, which are highly volatile, are attractive components (this is a newly reported finding); and 3) the dosages of nonanal and decanal needed for the highest activity were both 1/100 that of palmitic acid (low volatility), which is the main attractive component of human sebum. As D. pteronyssinus was attracted not only by low volatility components but also by high volatility components, it would seem to be important to remove and deodorize high volatility components first in order to reduce mite numbers.