Over at the Pure Liquid Kink blog there’s an interest post up about scent. It ponders why scent play isn’t more common, and why it isn’t talked about it more. After all sense of smell is a huge part of our sensorium.
Offhand I can think of a bunch of different reasons for its limited usage. Firstly, it’s hard to control. It’s relatively easy to modify your appearance or the sounds you make. In contrast making your body give off a particular scent is more of a black art. Secondly, it’s tricky to schedule. It takes time or a gym visit to develop a good sexy funk and, unless you have immediate access to a shower, it can’t be removed instantly. So planning is required. Finally, it’s a tough thing not to share. What’s sexy for a partner might not be so sexy to share with your work colleagues. After all, you wouldn’t want them nicknaming you after a well known Terry Pratchett character.
…his smell has become strong enough to not only melt earwax but to acquire a separate existence. In fact, it outclasses him, and is usually referred to in text as being almost another character entirely, who occasionally arrives ahead of Ron, opts to stick around for a while after his departure, and even goes to upper-class parties without him.
Wikipedia entry on Foul Old Ron
While that kind of smell is a little more edge play than I care for, the overall idea of scent play is a hot one for me. The natural perfume of a woman is sexy. It’s both a very physical and very intimate thing. And while it’s true that scent doesn’t get talked about a huge amount, there’s clearly a lot of interest in it. Whenever I see pro-dommes or porn stars selling clothing items, smell is frequently a big advertising point, whether it’s funky sneakers or more intimately fragranced items.
I found this image on the Adore Femdom tumblr. I’m afraid I don’t have an original attribution.
