The present invention relates to a stimulating agent comprising a pungent component having astringency, a stimulating composition including the agent, as well as a flavor or fragrance composition, a food, a drink, an oral care product and an external skin preparation containing the agent or the composition, and also relates to the use of a pungent component having astringency as a stimulating agent. Examples of the pungent component having astringency include a plant extract of Asteraceae Spilanthes, Rutaceae Zanthoxylum, Rutaceae Fagara, or Piperaceae Piper, or an amide derivative represented by general formula (1) (where R1 represents an alkenyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by a methylenedioxyphenyl at the end, R2 and R3 may be the same or different from each other and each are a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group in which a hydroxyl group may be substituted, and R2 and R3, together with the nitrogen atom adjacent thereto, may form a heterocyclic ring).
