Better Sex Thanks To Scent? Science Says Yes.

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Scent and sex have been inextricably linked for centuries, from stories of Cleopatra allegedly soaking her boat sails in perfume to seduce Marc Anthony to Marilyn Monroe admitting she wore nothing to bed but Chanel No. 5 to perfume advertisements that rely heavily on sensual imagery. And today, influencers on TikTok—the ones behind the explosion of #perfumetok—are churning out videos about seductive fragrances they claim drive men crazy.

But while the narrative often revolves around attracting a partner with an alluring perfume, experts say fragrance can also be a powerful tool to improve your own sexual pleasure.

It's a promise that can't come too soon: All types of partnered sexual activities are on the decline, especially in young adults, according to research. Some of this could be stress related, says Nan Wis, PhD, a licensed psychotherapist, cognitive neuroscientist, sex therapist, and author of Why Good Sex Matters.

Stressful stimuli, like those incessant smartphone notifications, keep the sympathetic nervous system in a constant state of alertness, preventing us from relaxing into our sensations and making it difficult to maintain attention during sexual experiences, Dr. Wise says. "We're an overly stressed-out culture that's struggling with anhedonia—the inability to experience pleasure—because of all the activations of the defensive systems that come from the way we're living."

The solution, according to Dr. Wise, is to quell our overly aroused sympathetic nervous systems. To get to a place where you can be present and pay attention to your sensations so that sex becomes more accessible and more pleasurable.

And this is where fragrance comes in. Scent is one of the most primal and evocative senses with a strong link to memory, and it can be a powerful tool for getting us out of our heads—and into our bodies.

The science of scent and sex

If you've ever gone through a department store smelling perfumes and wondered why certain scents make you feel happy, or nostalgic, or horny, while others make you feel nothing at all, you can thank your olfactory cortex. This part of the brain processes smell and quickly communicates signals to the limbic system—including the amygdala and hippocampus—which process emotions and memory.

There's an abundance of scientific literature exploring how scent can affect different brain functions, but the TL;DR is that smell has a profound ability to change our mood—as well as get us in the mood. Some of fragrance's impact on sex drive to classical conditioning—a well-studied theory about how our brains learn to subconsciously link two stimuli together, says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University.

If you often wear a certain perfume while experiencing sexual pleasure, for example, your brain will learn to associate that scent with sexual activity and, according to the classical conditioning theory, eventually the scent alone can boost libido. "Odors can elicit hormonal changes connected to initiating sexual contact and controlling sexual functioning and desire," says Dr. Hafeez.

Notes of intimacy

A person's affinity for particular fragrance notes is highly individual, but there are some aromas that have been universally linked to increased sexual performance—either by promoting relaxation or uplifting moods in test subjects. Jasmine, rose, lavender, sandalwood, saffron, ylang-ylang, and ambergris are just a few with studied impacts on mood.

This knowledge of particular notes' aphrodisiac qualities was part of what inspired Josh Smith, founder and perfumer at indie brand Libertine Fragrance, to create Sex and Jasmine. The soft and creamy notes of white florals and soothing sandalwood, combined with ambergris' salty, almost sweaty aroma, makes for an erotic experience. "They're all notes that make you draw closer to a person," says Smith. Along with these science-backed aphrodisiac notes, Smith also names tuberose and warm spices like cinnamon as some of the sexiest scents in his arsenal. "I think they have that cultural connotation of arousal or of sensuality," he says.

Missing Person Eau de Parfum

Designed to mimic the scent of a lover's skin that lingers on fresh sheets, Missing Person is soft and comforting with notes of sandalwood, white flowers and musk.

Libre Eau De Parfum

A best-seller for a reason, YSL Libre is a warm floral that exudes confidence with lavender, orange blossom, ambergris, and jasmine.

Sex & Jasmine

This isn't your grandma's white floral. Libertine's heady jasmine and neroli fragrance features a base of ambergris for an animalic, skin-like quality.

House of 8

Snif's lick-your-skin-off blend of chocolate, vanilla, lavender, and sage is equal parts hedonistic and elegant.

Delina Exclusif Parfum

Turn heads with Parfum de Marly's bold, euphoric blend of Turkish rose, lychee, oud, incense and warm vanilla.

Casablanca Eau de Parfum

If you love gourmand perfumes but don't want to smell like straight-up dessert, Brown Girl Jane's Casablanca is subtly hot with notes of vanilla orchid, cardamom, saffron, sandalwood, and amber.

Oud Davana

Inspired by the mysterious allure of Moroccan cities, Whind's Oud Davana transports your senses with a warm and spicy blend of rich oud, honeyed saffron, creamy sandalwood, and indolic jasmine.

More Sex

Using AI-powered technology to determine which scent notes are associated with feelings of seduction, Charlotte Tilbury created this blend of leather, musk, and sandalwood.

Back to Black Aphrodisiac

Kilian Paris' aptly-named fragrance masters the art of seduction with languid honey, smooth sandalwood, and tantalizing warm spices.

One ultra-popular perfume has not one but three suggested aphrodisiac notes: Yves Saint Laurent's Libre. This cult-favorite scent features lavender, jasmine and ambergris blended with delicate orange blossom, bright citrus fruits and earthy cedar. The result is an intoxicating, surprisingly unisex fragrance that provides a major confidence boost.

Eliciting certain emotions through scent is the guiding principle behind Charlotte Tilbury's first line of fragrances, a six-piece collection created in collaboration with fragrance house IFF that launched this month. The brand used a sophisticated AI-powered algorithm to zero in on notes that enhance certain feelings—their intimacy-enhancing offering, More Sex, is a blend of musk, leather, and sandalwood that 84% of wearers reported made them feel more seductive.

Perfume as a ritual for sexuality

Aside from the chemically relaxing properties of fragrance, designing a routine around scent also has the ability to improve your sex life. "I think a lot of us really enjoy pampering ourselves, and smell seems like an easy way to do just that—you don't even have to do much—the brain does the work for you," says Dr. Hafeez.

Like lighting your favorite candle or slipping into a soothing bubble bath, a pleasurable scent has the power to instantly put you in a relaxed state, and by indulging all of your senses, not just physical touch, you can redirect your attention and prime your brain for a better sexual experience.

Similar to how your makeup routine makes you feel ready to take on the day, or how your pre-bedtime habits make you feel sleepy, you can also create rituals to improve your sex life. Taking the time to select a seductive perfume before solo or partnered sex puts your mind and body in the mood for pleasure. Dr. Wise even suggests exploring your body's reaction to different scents for a sensual activity—think of it as fragrance foreplay.

Many cultures have been doing this for centuries already. Hind Sebti, an entrepreneur and founder of perfume and skincare brand Whind, based her fine fragrance line on Moroccan beauty rituals. "In Morocco, we believe that glow comes from the inside and out," said Sebti, who was inspired by hammam, a traditional communal spa that often incorporates aromatherapy. "You have to feel good to in order to look good. And scent is such a powerful thing for this experience in terms of feeling hot."

Sebti's self-proclaimed sexiest scents from her line happen to feature several aphrodisiac notes: Rose Saffron's hot scents are right in the title, while Oud Davana contains jasmine and sandalwood along with oud, an extract from the agar tree and common ingredient in Moroccan fragrances for its deep and earthy aroma.

Whether it's spritzing on sandalwood perfume to evoke steamy memories or applying lavender body lotion to relax your mind and body, scent has the unique ability to open your senses. But whatever fragrance you choose, make sure you're wearing it for your own pleasure.

“Any perfume that enhances your confidence—whether it attracts anyone else or not—is going to give you so much empowerment," says Dr. Hafeez. "Your sex life is best when you feel really good inside your body."

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