Aphrodisiacs are part of my Romantic Suspense novel, “Scent of Death”
The word “aphrodisiac” comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and sexuality. An aphrodisiac is a substance that stimulates or increases someone’s sexual desire (also called “libido.” A high libido means a high sexual desire).
The truth is, no one has developed a successful aphrodisiac. There are perfumes, there is Spanish fly, but none of these cast a spell of desire over someone within their range. People have tried for at least two thousand years to perfect an aphrodisiac. Ginseng is a purported aphrodisiac, shown below in bottles (photo courtesy of Wikipedia).
Other claimed aphrodisiacs are:
- Saffron (Crocin)
- Yohimbine (Pausinystalia Yohimbe and Indian Snakeroot)
- Damiana (Tumera Diffusa)
- Borojoa patinoi (Borojo)
- Mannish Water
- Cow Cod Soup
- Phenylethylamine (PEA).
Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are not aphrodisiacs. They can help males in the activity of sex, but they do not stimulate or increase a person’s sexual desire.