Lavender, pumpkin pie boost your sexual desire

A new study led by Drs. Alan Hirsch and Jason Gruss of The Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found the smell of lavender and pumpkin pie can boost a man's sexual desire as measured by the increase in penile blood flow by up to 40 percent.

For the study, Hirsch and Gruss enlisted 31 men aged 18 to 64 years and subjected them to olfactory testing with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. The subjects were also questioned about their sexual preference, sexual practices and odor preferences.

The researchers tested 24 individual odorants and six combinations of two of the most well-liked odorants for the study.

In addition, they also assessed the effects of the 30 odors on penile blood flow before and after the subjects were exposed to an individual odorant.

The researchers found the following were the most potent sexual desire boosters.

Odor or odor combination - Average increase in penile blood flow

Lavender and pumpkin pie - 40%
Doughnut & black licorice - 31.5 %
Pumpkin pie & doughnut - 20%
Orange - 19.5 %
Lavender & doughnut - 18%
Black licorice and cola - 13%
Black licorice - 13%
Doughnut & cola -12.5 % 
Lily of the valley - 11%
Buttered popcorn - 9%

A health observer suggests that men who really want to enhance their sexual desire or performance may use lots of garlic, vitamin C, salmon fish or other oily fish, peanuts or arginine supplements among other things. These foods or dietary supplements may boost men's sexual desire.

Jimmy Downs