The UK’s 'first aphrodisiac fragrance' is here – but does it work? We tested it

ok.co.uk:

Sex has always been used to sell fragrance but can a perfume really be a turn on? Eau yes, yes, yes! says Avon, creator of what it’s calling “the UK’s first aphrodisiac fragrance”.The brand has just whipped the covers off Attraction Game, a scent with ingredients it says are proven to turn you on.

Puts a whole new meaning into “Ding dong, Avon calling!” Attraction Game, £12, comes in versions for him and her, and Avon has coupled up with neuroscience to create its ‘“sex in a bottle” proposition. “We are the first brand in the UK to use fMRI fragrance technology to develop a perfume designed to trigger sensory neurons,” explains Gina Ghura, Avon’s head of fragrance. “fMRI imaging showed activity in all respondents’ brains, indicating stimulated feelings of pleasure.” Two years in the making, Attraction Game was developed by one of the world’s top fragrance houses, Firmenich, using ingredients shown in scans to light up testers’ hotspots when they smelled them. “The aphrodisiac effect is felt both on the wearer and by their partner, regardless of gender,” Gina promises. “Both scents share a hypnotic accord, shown to elicit pleasure.

It has an addictive quality, so the more familiar the brain becomes to the scents, the more it recognises that it enjoys them, which boosts the attraction effect when worn by a couple.” As the aphrodisiac effect isn't tied to gender, the couple-sharing effect is designed to work whether you pair the his and hers scents or two of the same – for instance for same sex couples, or if a woman prefers to wear a unisex scent.

As well as their shared hypnotic note, both scents feature a heart note of dark chocolate along with spicy pepper and pear, while the sweet For Her scent also features creamy.