Gustav Klein (as quoted by Adler, Die Mangelhafte Geschlechtsempfindungen des Weibes, p. 25) argues that the special function of the glands at the vulvar orifice—­the glandulae vestibulares majores—­is to give out an odorous secretion to act as an attraction to the male, this relic of sexual periodicity no longer, however, playing an important part in the human species.  The vulvar secretion, however, it may be added, still has a more aromatic odor than the vaginal secretion, with its simple mucous odor, very clearly perceived during parturition.

It may be added that we still know extremely little concerning the sexual odors of women among primitive peoples.  Ploss and Bartels are only able to bring forward (Das Weib, 1901, bd. 1, p. 218) a statement concerning the women of New Caledonia, who, according to Moncelon, when young and ardent, give out during coitus a powerful odor which no ablution will remove.  In abnormal states of sexual excitement such odor may be persistent, and, according to an ancient observation, a nymphomaniac, whose periods of sexual excitement lasted all through the spring-time, at these periods always emitted a goatlike odor.  It has been said (G.  Tourdes, art.  “Aphrodisie,” Dictionnaire Encyclopedique des Sciences Medicales) that the erotic temperament is characterized by a special odor.

If the body odors tend to develop at puberty, to be maintained during sexual life, especially in sympathy with conditions of sexual disturbance, and to become diminished in old age, being thus a kind of secondary sexual character, we should expect them to be less marked in those cases in which the primary sexual characters are less marked.  It is possible that this is actually the case.  Hagen, in his Sexuelle Osphresiologie, quotes from Roubaud’s Traite de l’Impuissance the statement that the body odor of the castrated differs from that of normal individuals.  Burdach had previously stated that the odor of the eunuch is less marked than that of the normal man.

It is thus possible that defective sexual development tends to be associated with corresponding olfactory defect.  Heschl[37] has reported a case in which absence of both olfactory nerves coincided with defective development of the sexual organs.  Fere remarks that the impotent show a repugnance for sexual odors.  Dr. Kiernan informs me that in women after ooephorectomy he has noted a tendency to diminished (and occasionally increased) sense of smell.  These questions, however, await more careful and extended observation.