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The most popular Valentines Day presents today are cards, candy and flowers. Of course, the tradition of exchanging cards is a very old one as we’ve seen – but while these appeal to the heart, erotic love is still very much about the senses. Since its introduction into Western culture , chocolate in all its forms has become the most popular confection on the planet. Not only does it taste wonderful, the substance contains chemical compounds that act on the brain in ways that release endorphins – the same chemicals that surge through our bodies when we fall in love. Small wonder that gift baskets full of gourmet chocolates are always appreciated.

Scent is another sense that has great bearing on feelings of eroticism. Since time immemorial, men and women alike have used the juices of flowers and other plants to make themselves smell attractive, and of course pheromones – subtle, almost undetectable molecules of scent given off by all mammals – have been a signal of sexual receptivity for millions of years. Is it possible that the use of perfumes and colognes are attempts to amplify or imitate the effects of pheromones? I think so, which is why I recommend gift baskets filled with herbal soaps and aromatic candles. Not only might these finely scented gifts tune into a more carnal instinct, they will also certainly be appreciated and used making them a wonderful gift sure to inspire a big smile.

Of course, we cannot forget color. Although it may vary from one culture to the next, in the West, pink, white and red have been the traditional colors of love – white for purity, pink for emotion, and red for sexuality. It’s why roses of those colors are always so popular on Valentines Day.