Let's face it, one of the main reasons you splash on a scent in the morning is to impress the opposite sex - and, for maximum effect, you're going to want to check the label for hedione from now onwards. According to the science journal

NeuroImage, this ingredient supposedly stimulates the hypothalamus, an area of the brain which releases sex hormones in women. In other words, it quite literally kick-starts their libido if you spray it on in their vicinity.

However, if a scientific study isn't enough proof for you, look no further than legendary ladies-magnet Steve McQueen.

The actor was not only one of the most famously stylish film stars of all time both on- and off-screen, but also a famously wore Christian Dior's Eau Sauvage - which, back when it was released in 1966, was the first fragrance to use hedione. Since then it has found its way into scents that have - perhaps not so coincidentally, it turns out - become some of the most popular on the men's market, such as 212 Men Summer by Carolina Herrera, Paco by Paco Rabanne, Voyage d'Hermes Parfum by Hermes and CKOne by Calvin Klein.

© Getty Images

Then again, the clues were always there, after all "hedione" is derived from the Greek word "hedone", meaning fun, pleasure and/or lust. The guys who patented the compound at Swiss fragrance company, Firmenich, certainly knew what they were talking about.

However, science aside, what does hedione (or methyl dihydrojasmonate) actually smell like? In short, it's fresh and floral - compared most often to the smell of jasmine with a hit of citrus mixed in. So sure, it's great that it turns women on, but more importantly it smells damn good to you too.

via telegraph.co.uk