It's been scientifically proven that our sense of smell is directly connected to our memory. (That explains why you get flashbacks of college dorm rooms when you smell Brut cologne or Ramen noodles.)

Memories of your significant other or whomever you happen to be getting horizontal with should, in theory, be happy ones.

So, what if the smell of that person isn't something that sets you off in a good way? If this is just a romp, go home, take a hot shower and you're good to go.

However, I recently received an e-mail from someone confessing that although she's into the guy she's been seriously dating, she's not all that thrilled about the way he smells. As a disclaimer, it's not that this guy doesn't shower or is an overly enthusiastic patchouli oil fan, but just "his smell" alone is not something she is fond of.

So, she asks, "Is this a deal breaker?"

It depends.

If the natural body smell of your guy is a constant nagging thought when you are with him, then yeah. You shouldn't be with someone if you are consumed by thoughts of Glade Plug-Ins. However, if it's something that you just are not used to yet, perhaps this is a smell that you'll grow to like as the memories attached to that smell blossom.

I dated a guy for a little while in high school that didn't shower regularly and wore the same college sweatshirt almost every day. Don't bother asking how I got hooked up with this guy. I would've preferred a tear-jerking amount of aftershave to the smell of pubescent body grease and when I broke up with him, I was right back to dating my high school sweetheart -- who did indeed shower and did wear too much cheap cologne.

My point is, when someone's smell isn't pleasant to you, that's what you'll concentrate on. Not on going out to dinner, not on your possible future together and probably not on getting busy.

If you really like the guy, consider buying him some nice soap or cologne that you both like. However, if that doesn't work -- or if you find that your guy's smell is increasingly creeping into your thoughts when you're together -- then I'd say stop wasting your time. It seems minor, but it's a major factor in your chemistry, which is what this stuff is all about in the first place.

Speaking of smells, from the moment we hit puberty, women are told that guys hate performing oral sex because "it smells and tastes funny." Which is really a travesty, because it makes us pretty self-conscious about it for years after. And go figure, once you guys get older and wiser, you go sneaking down there every chance you get.

Well, guys, if you are really under the impression that we like going down on you because semen tastes like champagne and strawberries and that "you" sitting snug in your Calvin's all day has somehow improved the smell situation at all, you've been seriously misinformed.

Now, I'm not saying that it's a complete deterrent but admittedly it's not great. However, there are tricks of the trade for both girls and guys.

Eating certain foods can change the way you taste ... its true! Pineapple juice, mangoes, peaches; really any sweet fruit consumed on a regular basis can make your spunk taste sweeter.

Other than increasing your Vitamin C intake, when you're putting on cologne or perfume, give yourself a quick spritz down under or just on your underwear if you do indeed wear any, and last, but certainly not least, why not take the action to the shower and kill two birds with one stone?

Whether it's the smell of Irish Spring, Snuggle dryer sheets or just the way he smells after you've ravaged him a few times, you shouldn't like the way your lover smells, you should love it.