The OTT perfume ads were right all along… sex and smell *are* connected.
The global PR machine that has relentlessly insisted that fragrance = sex over many decades in order to sell perfume can rest easy.
A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in January has found that sexual motivation does in fact decline in older adults with olfactory dysfunction, thus proving the perfume manufacturers right all along.
The study, conducted by researchers at The University of Chicago in the US, was a cross-sectional analysis of older adults from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.
It measured two modalities of olfactory function, including the sensitivity to n-butanol and odour identification through Sniffin’ Sticks.
The participants were asked about their frequency of sexual thoughts (i.e., motivation) and sexual activity, and satisfaction with their most recent sexual relationship.
The research found that fragrance was often the key to unlocking steamy thoughts in older people.
Those older folks who were olfactorily challenged had a significantly decreased sexual motivation and less emotional satisfaction with sex, although they didn’t actually have a decreased frequency of sexual activity or physical pleasure.
This is perhaps not the demographic that perfume manufacturers are targeting… But this could be an important concept to keep in mind now that COVID is zapping people’s sense of smell around the world…
If you sniff something sexy, say something sexy… Send tips to felicity@medicalrepublic.com.au.
