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The self-proclaimed father of more than 200 psychedelics, 83-year-old Bay Area chemist Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin is the Thomas Edison of tripping. His favorite creation? 2C-B. "It's visually very pleasant, with a strong element of the erotic," Shulgin says. "It's short-lived, with no hangover. . . . All in all, one of the most graceful compounds I have ever invented."

What sets 2C-B apart from heavier hallucinogens like LSD is that it responds well to what seasoned psychonauts call "intentionality." To laymen, that means 2C-B is usually mellow enough that users can easily control their experiences. "2C-B responds well to self-direction," says Dr. Neal Goldsmith, a New York psychotherapist and psychedelics expert. "It's easily controllable. The experience is determined by your goal."

Usurping LSD as the drug of choice at this year's Burning Man, 2C-B is rapidly proliferating throughout clubs and underground parties, according to reports from DJs and promoters. At $20 to $40 a pill, the stuff's not cheap, especially considering that the peak effects of a one-pill "museum dose" last only about two hours, just enough time to enjoy 2C-B's aphrodisiac qualities. As Goldsmith puts it, "Any physical contact results in a volcanic uprising of sexual energy. Users report all the feelings of love associated with MDMA [Ecstasy] — and none of the performance problems." DAVID HOLTHOUSE

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