How To Scent Yourself Sexier

The short answer? It’s still up for debate. What is widely agreed, however, is that scent has a powerful effect on the brain. Because our sense of smell is so closely linked to the brain’s emotional centres, certain notes can be deeply evocative. When it comes to attraction, experts believe this response is often tied to memory – meaning what feels alluring or aphrodisiac can vary significantly from person to person.

Pheromones are chemicals naturally released by the body that, in the animal world, play a key role in attraction and mating. In humans, however, the science is far less clear – there’s no definitive evidence that a single pheromone is responsible for triggering attraction, which makes the idea of a ‘pheromone fragrance’ somewhat debatable. That said, as perfumer and Escentric Molecules founder Geza Schön explains, scent can still have a ‘pheromone effect’ – when a fragrance blends “seamlessly with your natural skin chemistry, subtly enhancing your overall presence.”

Scent can play a powerful role in attraction by stimulating receptors in the brain – something Geza was inspired by during his early research into the chemistry of smell, particularly the molecule Iso E Super, which became the cornerstone of Escentric Molecules’ fragrances. Discovered in 1973 and not found in nature, Iso E Super has been shown to trigger a subtle, almost pheromone-like response. As Schön explains, wearing it can create an “animalic sensation” when detected by others. Unusual in its effect, it’s a note that draws people in – one that, as Schön puts it, you can’t quite get enough of.

A skin scent is a subtle fragrance designed to sit close to the skin – softly detectable and all the more alluring for it. Rather than masking your natural scent, these formulas enhance it, creating something more personal and intimate. Many are built around Iso E Super (like DS & Durga’s airy ‘I Don’t Know What’), while others lean on notes like musk – as in Diptyque’s fresh, modern ‘L’Eau Papier’ – or warm, velvety ambroxan. The latter features in Charlotte Tilbury’s aptly named ‘More Sex’, a fragrance said to enhance feelings of seduction in 84% of testers.

When it comes to aromatherapy, the impact is less about how a scent is perceived by others and more about how it makes you feel. Because fragrance lingers on the skin, certain notes can influence mood – and that shift in energy can translate into a more confident, alluring presence. As perfumer Véronique Gabai explains: “Certain notes can make you feel happy and sensual. I always say: close your eyes, connect with yourself, smell the scent deeply and see if it brings out the energy you want to project.” Her Aroma line is designed with this in mind, combining olfactive beauty with emotional benefits. Rooted in both nature and neuroscience, the fragrances are shown to enhance positive brain responses by up to 58%. ‘Heart’, for example, blends bright citrus notes to lift the mood and encourage a sense of openness and positivity.

As with most things fragrance-related, much of this comes down to personal association – our response to scent is deeply tied to memory, so what feels alluring can vary from person to person. That said, certain notes have long been linked to attraction. Jasmine, for example, is thought to boost mood and alertness, potentially increasing libido. Vanilla is believed to trigger dopamine – the hormone associated with pleasure – and features heavily in scents like Victoria Beckham’s 21:50 Reverie and Initio’s Absolute Aphrodisiac. Meanwhile, sandalwood and patchouli have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for their grounding, ‘stimulating’ properties.