Ineffective Fragrance Aphrodisiac perfume has no effect

New study shows: Aphrodisiac perfumes evaporate without effect
Some plants, such as verbena, are said to have an aphrodisiac effect. The scent of such plants is also used for perfumes that are supposed to weaken potential sexual partners. But many fragrances evaporate apparently without effect.

Aphrodisiac scented water without effect
According to a survey, three quarters of women and men in Germany feel more well-groomed when they apply perfume. It also showed that it makes many people more confident. But there are also people who use the scented water to exert a stronger sexual attraction on others. However, Australian researchers now report that aphrodisiac scents do not seem to weaken.

Some people use special perfumes that have an aphrodisiac effect. However, many of these fragrances evaporate without effect. (Image: vladimirfloyd / fotolia.com)

No enticing effect on the possible sexual partner
According to the study by scientists from the University of Western Australia, perfumes enriched with the substances estratetraenol (EST) and androstadienone (AND) are not attracting potential sexual partners.

These are two components of often expensive perfumes, which advertise to increase the attraction of women and men to the opposite sex.

The results of the study have now been published in the journal "Royal Society Open Science".

Messengers show no effects
According to a statement from the university, the researchers tested EST and AND on a total of 94 heterosexual women and men.

In order to arrive at their results, the study participants were asked in a first experimental step to assign gender-neutral faces composed of male and female computer pictures to a gender.

In a second attempt, the subjects had to arrange faces according to attractiveness and indicate whether they trusted the individual an escapade.

According to the researchers, the use of the substances EST and AND had no impact on the decisions in both experiments.

Contrary results in other investigations
It is said that older studies - including those from perfume laboratories - have reported opposite results. However, the current study states that there is no scientific evidence that the two substances are attractants to humans.

"AND and EST are probably not human pheromones," one of the researchers said. Pheromones are messengers that serve to transmit information between similar individuals.

According to the University Communication, much of the research in this area focuses on the fact that AND and EST are human pheromones "because of our fascination with how we can become attractive to the opposite sex".

There is a need for more "studies in this area that are conducted transparently and objectively" to find out if the substances are actually human pheromones. (Ad)