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RESEARCH LEARNS MEN'S COLOGNE DOES AROUSE WOMEN
EDITOR'S NOTE: A new study by the Indiana University Psychology Department and the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, has found that men's cologne actually does enhance sexual arousal among women. The news release attached was issued by the Olfactory Research Fund Ltd., which paid for the study, and distributed through the IU Office of Communications and Marketing. For more information, contact researchers Stephanie Sanders or Erick Janssen at the Kinsey Institute, 812-855-7686; or Terry Molnar at the Olfactory Research Fund, 212-725-2755.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Men's cologne actually does excite women sexually, a groundbreaking study has found.
The research sponsored by the Olfactory Research Fund and conducted by researchers at Indiana University and its Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, is one of the first studies to be done on the effects of fragrance on women's sexual arousal.
In a study of 33 women between ages 19 and 45, researchers found that women who smelled a popular male cologne while fantasizing about a pleasant sexual experience reported themselves more sexually aroused than during exposure to either a women's cologne or a neutral odor.
"The key finding here is that male fragrance enhances a woman's sexual arousal," said IU psychologist Cynthia Graham, the research team leader. Her co-investigators were Erick Janssen and Stephanie A. Sanders, both of the Kinsey Institute.
Two methods were used to measure how fragrance affects sexual response in each 90-minute experimental session. The first was to show subjects an erotic video clip; the second was to have them fantasize about a pleasant sexual experience. In each instance, the women wore a necklace scented with male fragrance, women's fragrance, or no odor at all. While the women fantasized, the male fragrance led to higher genital arousal than did the other scents.
None of the fragrances appeared to affect sexual arousal during the viewing of erotic films.
"For the first time, we have scientific evidence that fragrance best asserts its powers of seduction during fantasy," says Annette Green, president of the Olfactory Research Fund.
The findings suggest that women who have fantasies about sex -- apparently the majority -- should sniff a favorite male cologne to intensify the experience.
The study also found that the male fragrance most affected the fantasizing women in the post-menstrual phase that precedes ovulation. The women reported themselves to be in a better mood, and experienced higher arousal, around the time of ovulation.
"This study signifies the need to develop an entirely new specialty, the sexology of fragrance," said Avery Gilbert, the fund's scientific affairs director.
Ever since cave dwellers adorned themselves with fragrant flowers, history has shown that scent has the ability to kindle passion and eroticism. Graham's research provides scientific validation to the theory which, until now, had been based purely on anecdotal evidence.
The Olfactory Research Fund is the world's only non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting research on the psychological benefits of fragrance. It has supported pioneering research for more than 15 years and is credited with today's global fascination with the positive effects of fragrance on human behavior.