Discuss “How Things Work: Aphrodisiacs ”

What is it about some things that make you stop in your tracks and go “Damn!”? Such is the nature of an aphrodisiac. Throughout history, a potent aphrodisiac to change the ordinary into the erotic has been almost as elusive as the Philosopher’s Stone. The search has spawned multitudes of remedies for a lagging libido that range from odd to funny to dangerous.

An aphrodisiac is a food, scent, drug, or device that increases desire. The word “aphrodisiac” is derived from the name of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and sexuality. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite sprang from the churning sea, which explains why so many seafoods are said to have aphrodisiac properties.

Perhaps the most notorious mood enhancer is the legendary...