Olfactophilia

This article is part of the SM-201 Macropedia

Olfactophilia and Osmolagnia are both terms used to describe the paraphilia for, and sexual attraction to, or sexual arousal by, smells and odors emanating from the body, especially the sexual areas.

This ad juxtaposing a bottle of vinegar with a male model suggestively exposing his underarm hints at the use of underlying cultural olfactophilia to sell a product. Propionic acid (propanoic acid), present in certain samples of sweat, is chemically similar to acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, hence its common association with body odor.

Etymology

Olfactophilia, (Latin=olfacto, to smell, pertaining to the sense of smell, and philia, love). Osmolagnia, (Greek=osme, smell, and lagneia, lust).

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