Can certain fragrances enhance our sexuality?
Manufacturers and advertisers alike are often accused of
over-exaggerating the effect that fragrances have on our
sexuality, claiming that their fragrances will give its
wearer the power to attract the opposite sex. Yet are
these claims exaggerated?
More often than not, our understanding of the effects that
certain scents have on our sexuality is clouded by
misinterpretations and oversimplifications. Often at the
base of this confusion lies the lack of understanding of
the differences between the male pheromones, androstenol
and androstenone.
Androstenol is the odour produced by fresh male sweat while
androstenone is this same odour after it has been exposed
to air over a short period of time. While women are likely
to be attracted to the scent of fresh male sweat, they are
likely to be repulsed by the smell of sweat that has been
oxygenized—unless women are ovulating, in which case
studies reveal that this scent elicits a neutral response.
So unless a woman is going through ovulation, eventually,
she is likely to find her sweaty male partner's scent
repulsive.
Non-reactive androstenol-based sprays may be less effective
than advertisers have led us to believe. While its scent
(which does not react to oxygen) may attract women, it
cannot be detected by women who are further than eighteen
inches from the scent's source. Moreover, in a room where
there is more than one male, women are unable to
distinguish between the wearer of androstenol-based sprays
and other men who are wearing non-androstenol-based
colognes.
It is likely, then, that a man may benefit from another's
androstenol-scented cologne. To further complicate
matters, studies reveal that androstenol-based sprays also
attract other males!
On the upside, a man would benefit from colognes whose
fragrance has an uplifting effect. Pleasant-smelling
colognes that lift a man's depression and reduce tension,
anger and fatigue are likely to produce a positive effect
on its wearer that, in turn, attracts women. A personal
sense of happiness, confidence and well-being is by far a
more powerful attractant than any androstenol-based spray.
The same can be said for women. Pleasant fragrances on
post-menopausal women have been shown to have a beneficial
effect on their emotional well-being which in turn may make
them more attractive to their partners.
Romance evoking fragrances
With the pressures coming from all directions, from both
public and private life, it's important to set a sensual
and relaxing mood when it is time for romance. Enhancing
a private space for intimacy with fragrance, soft lighting
and sensual music is important, especially for older
couples who want to shut out distractions from the outside
world.
According to a 1995 survey conducted by The New York Times,
approximately one third of adults use fragrances to make
themselves more attractive to others. Recently, scientific
evidence supports what the perfume industry has long
purported: that male fragrances enhance a woman's sexual
arousal. A study conducted by the Olfactory Research Fund
indicates that women who fantasized about a sexual
experience while smelling a popular male fragrance (whether
androstenol-based or not) felt themselves more sexually
aroused than while smelling a female or neutral fragrance.
Fragrances that evoke a sensual atmosphere include Jasmine,
Lavender, Myrrh, Rosa Damascena, Rosa Centifolia,
Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang.
Are there specific stages in our lives that relate to our
use of fragrance? Perhaps. Studies done by Dr. Schiffman on
women ranging from the ages of thirteen to sixty suggest
that there are five age-related stages for a woman's use of
fragrance.
Essentially, young girls begin to use fragrances during
their teenage years for the purpose of self-identity. Then
during their twenties and thirties, women tend to use
fragrances to attract the opposite sex. During their
post-menopausal years, women primarily use fragrances
because it is the socially-appropriate thing to do.
Surprisingly, in her follow-up study, Dr. Schiffman found
that while women's reasons still fell into the same five
age-related stages, their reasons for wearing fragrances
increased and included the need for relaxation and mood
enhancement.
----------------------------------------------------
Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab,
a world leader in the development of innovative products
that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger
memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual
health. To learn more about enhancing your sex drive, go
to http://www.scentuellepatch.com
No comments:
Post a Comment