a few years ago, in the science times, (NYTIMES, tuesday 'section') there was a report the NYTimes paid for about 'aroma therapy'.

they paid for the study, presuming they would find proof it was a load of crock--the feature writer opened the story stating she was involved primarily because she was so sure aroma therapy was such a load of nonsence!

instead, they reported several 'aroma's' that seem, to have some demontratable effects. (i forget who they got to conduct the study, but they put effort into it to make it scientifically sound. (and remember they were sure the results would prove not that aroma therapy worked, but to proof it had no validity at all!)

spices (cinnamon, and cloves, especially)--both common in pumpkin pie and in apple pie--and in some men's colognes/scents (like old spice) seem to have an effect on males arrousal and ability to sustain arrousal.. (in other words, don't mix spice with viagra, or you could be one of the people they warn about in their commercials!)--the spicy scents worked best when combined with floral or fruity elements--an not just on their own.

spicy scents had a more general impact on women.. most find the to be energizing, but not in as specific a way that they 'energized' men! (i love spiced apple (or pumpkin pie scents, and frequently use candles with these aroma's in my house)--but i suppose if men find the scents make woman more alert, and engerized, (and less likely to say , not tonight, dear, i'm tired..well that is usefull!

Lavender for women, tends to be a relaxing scent (and is quite effective as a sleep aid!)

--and there is something 'wrong with me"--(or just the more general, not a member of the norm) i hate the smell of cucumbers, and the same for sweet licorice (good and plenty)

i tend to like woody-er scents, (like sandlewood) don't much like sweet or fruity scents in general (there are exceptions.) i haven't notice any scent that contributes to arrousal.

Once again our mothers were right. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

...or at least through his nose!
I had a friend who recommended sandalwood bath oil because, she said, there was no situation you couldn't face with improved equanimity after a sandalwood bath.
Vanilla has a reputation for being aphrodisac to men - that is, the scent, dabbed on a woman, not the flavour particularly. I imagine this is only true of real vanilla - the synthetic stuff lacks many ingredients of the real thing.

>Vanilla has a reputation for being aphrodisiac to men

Really? I'm not fond of the smell myself. Admittedly, we only have vanilla essence (real, not synthetic), and I've never smelled it when rubbed on to my wife's skin, but it does seem unlikely to work for me.

try it mixed with clove or cinnamon.. vanilla is fruity scent.. (and a good subsitute for lavender or pumpkin or apple..) all fruity scents that aren't too sweet.

Once again our mothers were right. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Not exactly, Zed.

It is the temptation of something destined for the stomach - the trace, the hint, the beckoning aroma of it - not the filling of the stomach per se, which endears women to men and arouses their passions.

Our mothers were right about this axiom as well, but in another context entirely. As the saying goes:

"All things that are, are with more pleasure chased than enjoyed."

I think if women really want to keep men's interest then they should invent a perfume that smells like a combination of steak, motor oil, the interior of a Ferrari, and popcorn.

a combination of steak, motor oil, the interior of a Ferrari, and popcorn

Very potent aromas each and every one, Alex Williams, but in combination? The scent of a Ferrari cannot be improved by motor oil, nor popcorn by steak.

Perhaps we need a dispenser which will release these heroic masculine odors in sequence, like the succulent courses of a feast, not in combination.

An olfactory feast! You have the germ of genius there, Alex Williams.

Perhaps we need a dispenser which will release these heroic masculine odors in sequence, like the succulent courses of a feast, not in combination. An olfactory feast! You have the germ of genius there, Alex Williams.

Well I probably have some sort of germ alright. I do like the idea of a perfume that releases different odors in sequence. Sounds complicated. Maybe different chemicals that have different vaporization points, and are released by changes in skin temperature. When she smells like popcorn you know she's hot.

Yes, I agree. The sequence should reach its euphoric climax in the scent of popcorn, ready to pop.

Popcorn is the piece de resistance, the melting point of the hero's armor.

...i hate the smell of cucumbers...

The *problem is that you hate the smell of cucumbers.

released by changes in skin temperature.

Mood perfume. How deliciously '60s.

When I read the title for this post "The favours of flavours" I thought - the Mango. It is mango season in India right now. To smell first, and then eat the first Mango of the season is always a special occasion.

The spell checker has never eaten a Mango.

I think if women really want to keep men's interest then they should invent a perfume that smells like a combination of steak, motor oil, the interior of a Ferrari, and popcorn.
When I was at university, my art studio classes were held in the same building as my then-husband's math lectures. He came home one day and told me he had thought for a moment I was in his class because the door opened and he caught a whiff of "me" - that is, turpentine!