A non-invasive method of altering vaginal blood flow in a female individual to augment or lessen sexual arousal is provided. The method involves administering an individual odorant or odorant mixture for inhalation that is sufficient to alter vaginal blood flow of the female by about -20% to about +30% compared to a baseline vaginal blood flow without inhalation of the odorant. Also provided is a method for screening an odorant for its capacity to increase or decrease vaginal blood flow, and an article of manufacture, or kit, containing an odorant and instructions for its use in altering vaginal blood flow.