The polarization anisotropy of the luminescence of several cyanine dyes in solution were measured under CW laser excitation as a function of the temperature. The iodide salt of diethyloxacarbocyanine (DOCI), diethyloxadicarbocyanine (DODCI), diethylthiacarbocyanine (DTCI) and diethylthiadicarbocyanine (DTDCI) have been studied in ethanol. Experimental results were interpreted in terms of asymmetric rotor models, in order to find out the effective molecular volume in solution and to decide between two hydrodynamic boundary conditions (stick-slip).