Pheromones and Attraction: food scents can stimulate sexual desire

When it comes to food and lust, we smell what we want.  Similar to how we sense the seductive aromas of an enticing meal in our vicinity, our noses attract us to people. We sniff out a man or woman as we would a tray of cookies fresh from the oven.

How does your nose know? Let’s explore the world of human pheromones and attraction.

As strange as it may seem, your nose is in control of your sexual reasoning.  It seeks out its preferred aroma and then tells your brain, “Go for it!” Of course, the message the brain receives is not just from your sense of smell, it is from a specialized region located behind the septum known as the vomeronasal organs (VNOs).

Olfactory cues picked up and delivered by the VNOs relate to sexual appetite, reproductive behavior, and even maternal behavior.

Where do pheromones come from?

Wondering what aromas are charming you? Well, you may not believe it but the pheromones are wafting from the underarms and groin area. (This is true for both a woman and a man.) These regions are populated by apocrine glands.

In short, the sweat glands are riddled with and dependent on hormones.  The apocrine glands activate due to stress or when excited sexually thereby secreting your individual brand of pheromone, attracting others to you. That’s right, your body odor can cause sexual arousal in someone who finds your scent sexy!

Imitators of sexual attraction

So when you see a person who makes your heart skip a beat, take a moment to wonder. Within your sexual attraction exists a scent that permeates your ability to reason.  Think about it, but beware of imitations.

Cologne and perfume manufacturers know humans are attracted to natural scents – the wood, floral, and herbal scents resembling those of our skin. Top performers of the perfume industry utilize the scents of sandalwood, pine, gardenia, lavender, and rosemary.

And, of course, dishes featuring these scents can also trigger olfactory signals of attraction. And it isn’t just foods but drinks that can be pheromone imitators.

RELATED: The aphrodisiac properties of sandalwood

The aromas of certain wines can also mimic those of male and female pheromones. This can enhance the enjoyment of a bottle of wine sipped together on a romantic occasion. But it can also lead to disappointment if the desire fades after the bottle of wine is drained.

This is also true of musky scents. They can certainly enhance a sexual experience but they can also be a form of trickery. My best advice is to meet someone, spend days and nights together, and hope when their layer of man-made musk dwindles, your sexual attraction does not.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Delahna Flagg

Delahna Flagg is a nutrition expert with a PhD in Holistic Health from Saybrook University as well as a classically trained chef and graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts. She is best recognized as the chef and co-star of Pamela Anderson's The Sensual Vegan web series. Her work on the series helped her develop into an authority on vegan recipe development and the nutritional needs of a vegan lifestyle. Delahna also has experience as a line cook and restaurant sous chef and she is the owner of a special events catering company, My World on a Plate, specializing in delicious, nutritious foods. As a nutritional consultant, she is a Center for Mind-Body Medicine practitioner. She also works as a nutritional value recipe development consultant. Delahna is the co-author of Amazon bestselling dessert cookbook Eat Cake Naked and has served as our Director of Nutrition for over ten years.

Latest posts by Delahna Flagg (see all)

• Lentil Enchiladas for a Vegetarian Date Night - April 25, 2024
• Is Cacao Aphrodisiac? Discover Cacao Sex Benefits - February 29, 2024
• Hibiscus Sex Benefits (Including Hibiscus Tea) - February 28, 2024