While scientific evidence is murky, it’s long been touted that certain scents and foods encourage intimacy. When Oprah and Dr. Oz talk about it, however, you know there’s gotta be something to it. The pair discussed findings that suggest a woman’s libido may be enhanced by the smell of cucumbers and licorice, while men are enticed by lavender and pumpkin pie. Even Oprah was surprised at the licorice revelation. Turns out Hershey’s Good and Plenty are especially powerful in this regard. The appeal of cucumber for women can be attributed to obvious below-the-belt shape similarities (similarly oysters, which since the days of Casanova who ate dozens a day, have maintained a reputation as powerful aphrodisiacs). Fortunately, pursuing the olfactory aphrodisiac needn't involve regular trips to the grocery.

Breakin' up may be hard to do in the best of circumstances, but calling it quits before Valentine’s Day is in a league of discomfort all its own. Avoiding an awkward situation is key, but as matchmaker extraordinaire Amy Laurent points out -- “breaking up via email, text message or even over the phone shows cowardice and immaturity.” With that in mind, here’s a list of spots that make breaking up right before Valentine’s Day just a wee bit easier (or at least more survivable).

10. Rick’s Cabaret & Steakhouse (Garment District) - Soothe the blow by offering to buy your ex a lap dance.
9. Bagatelle (Meatpacking District) - So loud no one will notice your yelling match.
8. Go see He’s Just Not That Into You - Blame it on the eye-opening film.

1. Moma Design Store (Soho) - Designy gifts for anyone on your list.
2. Flight 001 (Greenwich Village) - Laptop bags, pretty patterned luggage, and all kinds of other travel do-dads.
3. Swiss Army Soho (Soho) - Gadgets for people who like to tie knots and cut them open. Plus oodles of other techie gadgets.

What if I told you that random patchwork of Jelly Bellys was actually the eye of Martin Luther King Jr.? You'd think I was raving mad, right? Well I am, and it isn't, but it is part of a larger mosaic that makes up the face of the civil rights leader, who was joined last night by j-bean versions of Reagan and Lincoln at the opening of the re-designed and expanded Dylan's Candy Bar. Owner Dylan Lauren was joined by fellow Laurens ( handsome bunch), Woody Allen and tots, Ivanka Trump, Elizabeth Berkley, and Jason Biggs, who I'm sure all dodged cameras to gorge on candy coated apples and lobster cakes. I of course, missed any such behavior because I was too busy drinking candy in the guise of cocktails, with names like Bazooka Bull (Bacardi Limon, Red Bull, garnished with Bazooka gum), and Rock Candy (Grey Goose and Jelly Belly watermelon mixer garnished with a rock candy stirrer. It was a cheap thrill seeing the stiffness of the Upper East Side temporarily alleviated by gummy worms and fizz pops, even though I didn't catch Ivanka step within two feet of a lolly. Click through to see jelly MLK and some more snaps of the sweet spot.

Behold the invite for the October 27 relaunch of the Upper East Side location of Dylan's Candy Bar. Yes, it's a custom chocolate bar that will be dissolving in the gullets of various BlackBooks staffers by the time you read this. The NYC flagship DCB is itself "150% bigger" than before, complete with new cafe, party rooms, and "candy cocktail bar." More on that later. For now, relish the vicarious sugar rush.