The sense of smell is one of the most primal parts of the human organism. Apparently, the deep limbic brain where smell is felt is more than twice as big in the average man as it is in the average woman.
Certain smells have an arousing effect on men: lavender and pumpkin pie (in combination!); doughnuts mingled with black licorice, lavender, or pumpkin pie (hard for me to imagine exactly what that smells like); oranges, cheese pizza, roast beef, or cinnamon buns! Note the food theme. Maybe it’s really true that the way to a man’s heart (or other parts of his anatomy) is through his stomach.
What arouses women? Baby powder, cucumber, licorice, and lavender. Cherries and barbecue smell are a turnoff for women. Who knew?