Do Pheromone Perfumes Work? Here's 7 Our Editors Love (2025)

Our Top Picks

Key Notes: White tea, orange blossom, red rose, lavender, leafy greens, dry musk, vanilla woods, amber | Fragrance Family: Warm floral woods | Size: 1.69 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Warm notes of vanilla and florals blend with hardy musks and ambers to create this deliciously alluring fragrance worthy of your attention (and its name). Upon the first spritz, your senses are overcome with sweet and delicate notes of white tea and orange blossom, resembling the butterflies of a first date. As the fragrance opens on your skin, it intensifies as layers of dry musk give it a bourbon-like aroma. The fragrance leans both sophisticated and airy, making it an inviting fragrance for anyone. Spray this scent on your pulse points to flirt with your body’s chemistry, and watch as this perfume gives you a sensual boost. It's the perfect scent for a date (or really any occasion). Just be sure to avoid direct contact with any silk fabrics, as our tester found it can stain.

Bali, tester: “The fragrance has notes of vanilla (that remind me of a delicious bakery) and sharp notes of bourbon and liquor. It smells like sitting by the fireplace, cocktail in hand while listening to smooth jazz music.”

Key Notes: White musk, steamed rice accord, mimosa, blonde woods accord | Fragrance Family: Floral musk | Size: 1.69, 3.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Inspired by paper, this scent's fresh and light aroma wears like a second skin. A cocktail of luminous mimosa, wood acord, soft white musk, and steamed rice blend and create the illusion of a warm, inviting hug. It’s both bright and fresh and simultaneously cozy and snug. Mist this fragrance on as an accessory to your everyday outfit. While it isn’t necessarily the loudest in the room, it has a surprising subtlety to it that will turn heads. Our tester described it as “sensual without being sexy.” What’s most striking is its ability to evolve on the skin, smelling slightly different on everyone. The chic yet minimal packaging is simply the icing on the cake, and the sensorial experience of this perfume is enough to keep us coming back.

Nikki, tester: “L'Eau Papier is a cozy, comforting, musky scent that complements my body chemistry. It’s the softest and airiest of musks, accompanied by light woods, giving this fragrance some lasting power on my skin.”

Key Notes: Orange blossom, jasmine | Fragrance Family: Fresh floral | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This fragrance’s sweet and spicy tang proves that you don’t have to spend a pretty penny to smell enticing. Simply roll this fragrance on your wrists, back of elbows, and neck, and begin to smell the rich top notes of jasmine, lily, peony, and mixed berries overcome your senses. At first, the scent is slightly spicy and almost cinnamon-like, as if cardamom buns are baking in the oven. As it settles, the softer floral and fruity notes balance out the intensity and give it a smoother feel. It’s the ideal scent to pair with your new mini dress and heels to give you an added oomph on a night out. This seductive and surprisingly affordable fragrance (under $30) can be described as ‘your scent but better.’ Our testers noted that less is more with this one, so be sure to go in light and add more if needed. If you’re looking for a sexy, alluring scent sure to garner compliments, this perfume is for you.

Jasmine, tester: “The spiciness is sharp, and then it fades into jasmine; bright, sweet, and warm. I love the initial spiciness of the orange blossom.”

Key Notes: Bergamot essence, iso e super, vetiver acetate, civettone firsantol, ambrox super | Fragrance Family: Amber | Size: 1.69, 3.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Layering perfumes is one of the best ways to create a unique scent encapsulating all sides of your personality. Like a mixologist, creating a good fragrance cocktail requires a sufficient base: a fragrance that isn’t too overpowering and will bring out the best notes of other perfumes. This gem’s subtle freshness is a perfect starting point for layering, offering a soft balance of citrusy bergamot and dry, earthy cedar that’s refreshing and grounding. That said, we’d be just as happy wearing it solo, especially in more intimate settings like the office or a dinner party where we don’t want to overpower the room. It’s the perfect blend of quiet confidence that leans brighter and finishes a bit warmer and woodier. Sometimes, a subtle touch leaves the most lasting impression (fingers crossed).

Austin, tester: “I like that this fragrance is an enhancer, improving your existing pheromones and scent. I like that its subtleness is what pairs well with other perfumes.”

Key Notes: Iso-E Super (sandalwood) | Fragrance Family: Wood | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

There’s nothing better than stepping out of a relaxing shower and smelling like a mix of luxe shampoos, body wash, and lotion, and this perfume from Escentric Molecules has similar notes. This fresh, clean fragrance is reminiscent of freshly laundered cotton, with a touch of soft musk that gives it a bit more depth. While there was a brief alcohol scent right after spraying, it quickly dissipated, leaving behind a fragrance that’s clean and delicate. On our testers’ skin, it was light and crisp, yet they could still catch hints of it on their clothes well into the day. The delicious soap scent is perfectly versatile and as lovely on its own as it is layered with other scents to create something completely yours.

Trisha, tester: “This fragrance smells almost of very light soap. It’s very faint, so I would probably layer it with other perfumes.”

Key Notes: N/A | Fragrance Family: N/A | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

Don’t let the ‘For Men’ label fool you—this fragrance is far more than a one-gender wonder. Similar to the bold, geometric bottle that’s playful, this scent has a way of taking on different personalities depending on who wears it. One of the testers experienced a fresh, spa-like aroma, like stepping into a luxurious steam room filled with soothing notes. Meanwhile, another tester got a deeper, more seductive impression, picking up on rich whiskey and musk undertones that felt distinctly ‘after hours.’ But both were drawn to the surprisingly warm vanilla, which seemed to linger the longest, adding a soft flirty flare. We found this scent to be unisex and deceptively alluring. Who knows—this might just be the secret weapon we’ve been missing for a truly captivating concoction. Hot tip: Spray directly on your skin to avoid staining darker fabrics.

Trisha, tester: “The scent is a musky vanilla, a sophisticated whisky. On my skin, the scent got a little spicier, but on the other tester, sweeter notes were brought up, making it a great unisex scent.”

Key Notes: N/A | Fragrance Family: Fruity floral | Size: 0.35 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

Hear us out—this fragrance enhances your natural scent rather than masking it, much like a minimalistic makeup routine that lets your skin shine through. Instead of commanding attention, this pheromone perfume complements your presence, wrapping you in a soft cloud with hints of floral. It’s definitely on the sweeter side—think: a youthful gourmand but in the best possible way. One roll of this and our testers were left with a bright, candy scent lingering on their skin, hair, and clothes for hours. Plus, the rollerball design makes it easy to slip into our bag for discreet applications throughout the day. While the bottle’s ‘sext attractant’ label might not be for casual display, we’re all about giving it a go—anything’s worth a shot when you’re over the dating app grind.

Mia, tester: “It’s a really sweet-smelling perfume with hints of brighter floral notes. It's also quite strong—just one roll on my wrist had my entire body smelling like the perfume. I like that it’s a bit bright, fruity, and candy-like.”

FAQ

• What are pheromone perfumes designed to do?

  According to Mastenbroek, “Pheromones are chemical substances that are secreted by the body.” He claims that the synthetic versions—androstenone and androstadienone—included in perfumes are intended to help attract others.

• Do pheromone perfumes actually work?

  The jury is still out on whether pheromone perfumes truly work. “However, there are two steroids that are closely related to some possible human pheromones, and studies have focused on these: androstenone and androstadienone,” Mastenbroek adds. “Some researchers believe they have pheromonal effects. In fact, both have been shown to have an impact on female mood and may even boost sexual desire,” explains Mastenbroek. So, why not give it a try?

• How do you know if a perfume contains pheromones?

  It can be tricky to decipher which perfumes contain pheromones as the FDA doesn’t require the complete ingredient list to be displayed. The chemical ingredients designed to mimic these pheromones are mostly known as androstenone, androstenol, and androstadienone. So, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these ingredients.