What is the fascination with women’s panties? Think about the opening of any anime you’ve ever seen or the famous opening to Lost in Translation that features Scarlett Johansson’s panties before her face. Considering women’s panties as sexy objects seems perfectly natural, but somehow interacting with them is taboo. A specific scene in White Chicks, numerous stand-up routines and even some anecdotes you’ve heard all seem to imply that sniffing a woman’s panties is somehow beyond a certain line.

Some accept the adoration of panties with open arms. Certain anime films feature this idea, specifically a film called Colorful. This series was adapted from a manga into a 16-episode series all about the sexualization of receiving a peek at a woman’s panties. The fact that this series was created as a parody of the already existing fetish for women’s panties is perhaps proof of its prevalence.

It’s not so odd to like panties! Why not accept other forms of stimulation, like smell, in addition to sight? Many men love the smell of a woman; it’s been likened to the complexity of a wine’s bouquet as well as being implicated in the production and effect of pheromones. My boyfriend loves my smell, especially asking to smell and taste me after orgasm, which usually leads to another round.

Though some may find the most stimulation from the sight or smell of panties, many people enjoy the stimulation of wearing panties. The interest may extend to generalizing the sensation of panties to other forms of undergarments, like pantyhose or the full costumery of lingerie. Then, the full presentation of a garment can be appreciated. A great deal more workmanship and artistry goes into the design and wearing of lingerie than meets the eye. The elements of its attraction may range from the sheer sumptuousness of silk or the unabashed sexual nature of the clothing. Whether you wear or enjoy wearing special undergarments, it's a whole new and very enjoyable world.

For many women-loving folks across the globe, there is a serious, profound allure not only to a woman’s genitals but the fabric that shields them, as well. The hidden has always been fetishized, from feet to breasts and everything in between. Do you remember that famous scene from Sixteen Candles? Molly Ringwald gives her panties to a "geek" and even though her character appears to rue the decision, he's ecstatic. He invites other teenage boys to see them, for an admission fee, in a public bathroom. In this bathroom, he presents these panties as a symbol of achievement, perhaps standing for sexuality without being sexually explicit.

One day, after I’d been away on a long trip, my boyfriend revealed to me that he’d kept my panties. “It smells like making love to you, like the way you slip out of a dress. Like the way your thighs hold me.”

Panties are not an unnatural symbol for the hidden female sexual organ or female sexuality. Since the female organ has been likened to flowers, the keeper of their fragrance has become equally important, like perfume. Panties may also serve as an association with or accessory to a certain kind of voyeurism. They may even provide a link between the person who enjoys them and the person who wore them. Though this fetish has been maligned, the adoration of the female organ is universal.