Dr. Alisa Brady is an entrepreneur and Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and business development. After earning her PhD from USC, she began her career as a psychologist before transitioning into the entrepreneurial world. Dr. Brady founded several mental health companies and ultimately sold them. In 2021, she created Sweetums, the omni-channel consumer brand, Sweetums.

With a deep passion for mental health and innovation, she developed Sweetums to introduce the first flavored intimate wipe to the market. Her vision behind Sweetums was to close the pleasure gap and foster better communication and play in the bedroom. Since its launch, Dr. Brady has expanded the brand's offerings to include fragrance and beauty products, all designed to promote greater connection with oneself and others. In a world increasingly shaped by screens and digital interactions, Dr. Brady recognized the growing sense of isolation that many individuals were experiencing, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. With people more disconnected than ever, Sweetums was born out of a desire to create tangible ways for people to reconnect—with themselves and with others.

At the heart of the brand is the first intimate wipe with flavor, a product designed to close the pleasure gap and empower women to explore and enhance their experiences in the bedroom. By focusing on communication, connection, and play, Dr. Brady's innovative product helps people break down barriers and foster intimacy with easy and convenient products for women on-the-go. Sweetums has since expanded to include a range of products designed to promote connection, from fragrance to beauty items, all intended to enhance both individual well- being and interpersonal relationships. One of the latest innovations is a flavored fragrance that combines psychology and brain science to elevate mood and foster
connections. This unique product harnesses the power of scent to positively influence emotional well-being, while the added flavor element creates a sensory experience that encourages playfulness and communication between individuals.

With each new product, Dr. Brady’s goal is clear: to empower people to feel confident, embrace their pleasure, and engage in meaningful connections that promote health, happiness, and fulfillment. Dr. Brady's work continues to champion the importance of mental health, human connection, and the power of innovation to bridge the gap between beauty and sexual wellness, with an emphasis on treating all parts of our body with love and care.

Scent and flavor are deeply intertwined with memory and emotion because they are processed in the most primal parts of the brain—the limbic system, which governs emotion, motivation, and long-term memory. When we smell or taste something, the sensory signals bypass the rational centers of the brain and go straight to the amygdala and hippocampus, which are responsible for emotional learning and memory formation. This direct connection explains why a certain fragrance or flavor can instantly transport us back to a vivid moment in time—like the smell of vanilla evoking childhood comfort or the taste of peach reminding us of a summer romance.

Research shows that scent and taste are uniquely powerful in triggering emotional recall compared to other senses. While sight and sound must pass through multiple processing layers, scent and flavor reach the emotional centers almost instantly. That’s why these sensory experiences can influence mood, attraction, and even physiological arousal without conscious effort. A pleasant scent can calm the nervous system and reduce stress, while specific flavor notes—like sweetness or warmth—can increase dopamine and oxytocin, the “feel-good” and “bonding” chemicals.

This fusion of sensory science and psychology is the foundation for the Sweetums products that go beyond aesthetics to create emotional connection. When scent and flavor work together, they don’t just make someone smell or taste good—they anchor feelings of confidence, intimacy, and connection. These sensory imprints become part of a person’s emotional identity, linking products like flavored wipes, fragrances or flavored balms to meaningful experiences of pleasure, comfort, or closeness. In this way, scent and flavor don’t just enhance the body—they increase connection and establish bonds and memories.

The Sweetums Intimacy Guide explores how emotional, physical, and mental well-being shape our ability to connect, both with ourselves and with others. It highlights that intimacy is not just physical closeness but an emotional and psychological bond built on trust, communication, and vulnerability. True connection grows through consistent care, empathy, and the willingness to both give and receive understanding.

Emotional intimacy forms the foundation of meaningful relationships. For many women, feeling seen, valued, and emotionally safe allows physical intimacy to flourish. For men, intimacy is often expressed through appreciation, loyalty, and non-verbal gestures of affection. Differences in how intimacy is expressed can sometimes cause disconnection, but awareness and empathy bridge those gaps. Barriers like stress, miscommunication, or past hurt can limit closeness, while small moments of genuine attention and reassurance rebuild it.

Physical intimacy is an extension of emotional connection—it deepens bonds, releases oxytocin (“the love hormone”), and fosters a sense of belonging. When stress, fatigue, or self-consciousness interfere, gentle communication and shared relaxation can help reignite connection. Intimacy thrives not through pressure, but through playfulness, touch, and mutual curiosity.

Mental health plays a vital role as well. Anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma can make it difficult to feel safe or desired, while emotional balance and self-confidence enhance openness and trust. Self-care, therapy, and mindfulness practices strengthen this foundation, helping individuals show up fully in their relationships.

Ultimately, intimacy is built through intention, not intensity. Small, thoughtful moments—a kind word, a lingering touch, shared laughter—create lasting bonds. When couples prioritize connection over perfection, intimacy becomes not just an act but a daily expression of love, presence, and partnership.