Some baby boomers may reach for Viagra and progesterone creams on Valentine's Day, but the potential side-effects have others looking for alternatives for flagging libidos, such as scented patches.

A scented patch promoted as a drug-free way to boost desire is one of a growing number of products being developed in the field of aromacology.

Scents directly stimulate the brain because the olfactory system — the sense of smell system — is hard wired.

Linda Ryan of Wolfville, N.S., is taking advantage of how scents affect the brain to treat her postmenopausal low libido. Ryan uses a lightly scented patch called Scentuelle, which she places on her wrist and sniffs every hour, or when she thinks of it.

"You start relaxing, you start feeling better about yourself, and you just start feeling sexier," said Ryan.

Scentuelle was developed by a biochemist in Scotland.

Ryan and her husband Luke Vorstermans said they were so pleased with how the patch worked after three weeks that they bought the North American distribution rights for the product.

"When you smell Scentuelle … the size of the molecule mimics that of dopamine," said Vorstermans. "So it's basically sending a chemical message to the brain."

Dopamine is the body's feel-good hormone.

As an odour researcher, Heather Schellinck of Dalhousie University's Institute of Neuroscience in Halifax acknowledged that studies show human body odours can affect behaviour and mood.

"There really isn't any literature that would suggest that there is any compound that would increase your libido," the psychologist said.

Schellinck does not rule out the possibility that sniffing a patch could be a turn on, even if it is simply through the power of suggestion.