Over the years, I've created a guide to pumpkin patches in New England, written about how to pick a pumpkin, collected delicious pumpkin recipes from New England and even designed carving patterns for you to use on your pumpkins. Pretty much all that's left is to tell you what it's like to be scrubbed from head to toe in pumpkin goop.

Actually, it's not goop at all. The Pumpkin Peel body treatment at the Spa at the Wentworth by the Sea grand hotel, located near Portsmouth in New Castle, New Hampshire, begins with a slathering of an enzyme-based pumpkin product that not only smells just like pumpkin pie baking in the oven, it's formulated to bring dead skin cells to the surface and to minimize the appearance of blemishes and fine wrinkle lines.


If Cinderella had only known her pumpkin could be transformed into this wonderfully scented and effective concoction, she would have opted to walk to the ball.

Back in 1998, in his book, "Scentsational Sex: The Secret to Using Aroma for Arousal" (), Alan Hirsch, the neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, asserted that men find the aroma of pumpkin pie to be one of life's most stimulating scents. Not that you needed proof that men and women are wired differently, but I actually found being enveloped in pumpkin and breathing deeply of its rich, sweet aroma to be extraordinarily relaxing. The next time you feel the urge to don an apron, you might want to consider this labor-free, clothes-free alternative.

I could have easily lain on the table for an hour feeling cozy and stress-free and smelling like pumpkin, but Lisa, my therapist, insisted that the scrub's potent ingredients--alpha-hydroxy acid, protein, potassium and vitamins A and C--had to come off after 10 minutes.

Luckily, I was in for another treat, as the shower was stocked with a loofah and ginger wash. After an invigorating, warm shower, the treatment was completed with an all-over application of light, non-greasy, moisturizing ginger crème. The self-heating lotion relaxes the muscles and creates a wonderful sensation of comfort and warmth.

Ready to indulge in the ultimate fall treat? As of 2004, the price for the 50-minute Pumpkin Peel treatment was $65, and an extended, 75-minute treatment was also available for $130. Gratuities are additional.

The Spa at The Wentworth by the Sea is open both to hotel guests and day visitors, and if you're interested in the Pumpkin Peel, advance reservations are a must, as it is only provided by a few spa staff members. For reservations and more information, call the spa directly at (603) 373-6580.