Can the smell of food get blood moving to the penis?

Throughout history strong associations have been suggested between our sense of smell and our sexual appetites.

But is this simply folklore or can we extract some scientific truth from it?

The smell of food is strongly linked to how it tastes. In fact, smell is responsible for 95% of the taste of food. It is not surprising then that food smells, as with other smells such as perfume, can evoke a powerful emotional response. Dr Allan Hirsh, from the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, has taken this one step further by proving that food smells can evoke very distinct reactions in men.

"smell is responsible for 95% of the taste of food"

The experiment took place in L.A. where we tested nine men; three each from Germany, the UK and the USA. Would men from different countries get aroused by the smell of different foods?

In his original study Dr Hirsch found that certain food smells perceived as pleasant by the subject could increase penile blood flow significantly by over 40%.

By presenting our volunteers with an array of enticing, and not so enticing, smells and measuring the increase in their penile blood flow we investigated into whether cross-cultural stereotypes could be extended to sex.

In our study, Lavender and Pumpkin pie ‘seduced’ our Americans’ by an average of 32%. The smell of fish and chips failed to arouse both the Germans (a reduction of 6%), and the Americans (a reduction of 18%)

Thankfully it wasn’t the favourite fragrance for the Brits either, but for them the blood got pumping by 24% by the scent of apple cake.

In tests of sexual stimulation by smell alone by Dr Hirsch and his team at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, a combination of doughnuts and liquorice increased blood flow to the penis by an average of 32%. Liquorice and cucumber did it for the ladies, increasing vaginal blood flow by an average of 13%.

Have a look at some sexy Takeaway Tips.

Suggested recipes from BBC Food

Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library