A substance that arouses sexual desire. Often used in medical, literary, or fantasy contexts.
Certain herbs are known as aphrodisiacs.
love potion; philter
A magical or folkloric drink supposed to cause love or infatuation. Often appears in stories and legends. Synonymous with 惚れ薬.
See also: 惚れ薬
The witch made him drink a love potion.
The witch made the prince drink a love potion.
After a while, the effect of the aphrodisiac began to show.
媚薬 (a potion that incites desire or love) and 毒薬 (a poison meant to harm or kill) share the 薬 kanji but have opposite effects.
Compound of 媚 (bi, 'flattery' or 'charm') and 薬 (yaku, 'medicine' or 'drug'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly suggests a drug that induces charm or desire.