Women Exposed to the Scents of Fertile-Phase and Luteal-Phase Women: Evaluative, Competitive, and Endocrine Responses

Men prefer the scents of fertile-phase women to the scents of luteal-phase women. Very little research, however, has examined women’s responses to other women’s scents. The current research did so by asking female participants to smell one of two sets of t-shirts: One set that was worn by women during the fertile phase of their cycle, and one set that was worn by the same group of women during their luteal phase, and then rate the “pleasantness” of the scent of each shirt. Women preferred the scents of shirts worn during the fertile phase. Evidence suggested that exposure to luteal phase shirts may prime more assertive responses to other young women. In women with high estradiol and low progesterone during the session, testosterone became elevated. A number of possible explanations may account for these effects. Additional research is needed to assess them and establish the robustness of these effects.

Duke Scholars

Author Melissa Emery Thompson Evolutionary Anthropology