Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to influence numerous ecological interactions among plants, insects, and natural enemies. There is little information on the direct or indirect effects of insecticide application on the production and emission of VOCs from plants. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of two pyrethroid formulations on the emission of VOCs from cotton (Gossypium hirisutum L.). Emissions were sampled from cotton leaves treated with either a capsule suspension (CS) or an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) of lambda-cyhalothrin, or untreated controls 24 and 96 h after application of insecticides and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results indicated that application of either formulation of pyrethroid had no significant effect on the total emission of volatiles during any sampling period. Interestingly, untreated plants did exhibit significantly greater emissions of (E)-2-hexenal, β-farnesene, and (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetrae compared with plants treated with CS or EC formulations, seemingly due to significantly greater herbivore feeding activity on control plants compared with insecticide treated plants. The results of this study provide no indication that insecticide treatment influences VOC emission from plants; however, more controlled laboratory studies would likely provide more conclusive evidence.