26 November,2010 12:16 PM IST | | Agencies
Forget dropping tons of money on designer fragrances -- a recent study made headlines for discovering that the aromas of a number of familiar foods aroused men most.
According to findings by the Chicago-based Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Center, which were broadcast on US-based WPBF radio on November 19, the most sexually enticing scents include pumpkin pie, doughnuts, black licorice, buttered popcorn and cola.
Test subjects were attached to a plethysmograph, a machine that measures penile blood flow, and exposed to 30 odors. The research team found that all of the odors stimulated men at some level, but that the combined scent of pumpkin pie and lavender increased average blood flow by 40 percent. An infusion of doughnuts and black licorice increased arousal by 31.5 percent.
Dr. Alan Hirsch, the center's director, said that the scent of vanilla triggered sexual desire among older men. Hirsch and his team explained that the odors of favorite foods could remind men of their sexual partners, or could "evoke nostalgic recall."
Ten sexiest odour or odour combinations
u00a0u00a0 1. Lavender and pumpkin pie
u00a0u00a0 2. Doughnuts and black licorice
u00a0u00a0 3. Pumpkin pie and doughnut
u00a0u00a0 4. Oranges
u00a0u00a0 5. Lavender and doughnuts
u00a0u00a0 6. Black licorice and cola
u00a0u00a0 7. Black licorice
u00a0u00a0 8. Doughnut and cola
u00a0u00a0 9. Lily of the valley
u00a0 10. Buttered popcorn
Seems like ladies have got it all wrong though - Sephora.com's current best-selling women's fragrances include Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue (with Bluebell, Granny Smith Apple, Jasmine Sambac, Bamboo, White Rose, Cedarwood, Amber, Musk) and Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf (Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Ballerina Freesia, Patchouli).
