The effects of fragrance on sexual response in
women were investigated using subjective and physiological
measures of sexual arousal and of mood. Responses were
obtained from female participants in three different fragrance
conditions (female fragrance, male fragrance, and a “blank”
or neutral substance), as they viewed erotic and sexually
neutral films, and fantasized about sexual situations.
Each woman was tested twice: during the midfollicular and
periovulatory phases of her menstrual cycle. Menstrual
cycle phase effects were apparent; self-report data indicated
greater sexual arousal and more positive mood during the
periovulatory than during the follicular phase. Results
demonstrated a positive effect of the male fragrance on
genital arousal during erotic fantasy, but this finding
was apparent only during the follicular phase testing session.
This effect did not appear to be mediated by any effects
of fragrance on mood.