Leader hosts star figures - they may induce arousal (10)

I believe the answer is:

pheromones

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'they may induce arousal' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'leader hosts star figures' is the wordplay.
'leader' becomes 'pm' (PM is an example).
'hosts' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are welcomed or hosted).
'star' becomes 'hero' (both can mean a main character).
'figures' becomes 'ones' (one is a number or figure).
'pm' going around 'hero' is 'pherom'.
'pherom'+'ones'='PHEROMONES'

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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