Perception of smell of a perfume applied to the women skin in course of menstrual cycle

Abstract

Introduction: Perfumes are the cosmetics applied to the skin. Body odor has been shown to be attractive in the fertile days in non-user of contraception. However, contraception pill intake destroy cyclic attractiveness of odors. Aim: The aim was to test attractiveness and intensiveness of perfume applied to the female skin in course of menstrual cycle. Material and methods: Diluted vanilla extract was applied on forearm of 18 women (9 women users of contraception and 9 non-users of contraception). Thirty minutes occlusion samples were collected and judged for its attractiveness and intensity by 25 men. Samples were collected at 1st, 8th, 14th, and 22nd day of cyclus. Results: Attractiveness of smell of perfume in women, which use contraceptive was statistically significantly higher than in non-user. Furthermore, attractiveness of smell at 15th day of menstrual cycle was second best when perfume was applied in women, which use contraceptive. Conclusions: Perfume on the skin of women, which apply contraceptive, smell better than on non-contraceptive-user skin. Moreover, women body odor together with perfume is highly attractive in contraceptive-user in the middle of the cyclus.