They are supposed to be romantic. Preforming a tonsillectomy on the first date good night kiss after having had garlic for dinner while grabbing parts of my anatomy that are normally covered by underwear is not in any way shape or form romantic.
At minimum a breath mint is required.
Well, from my understanding, the term "french kissing" was coined by American soldiers in WWI who experienced it from young French ladies who did things the young American ladies never did. At first the term was meant to refer to oral sex, but when the boys came back home, it was transferred to the more modern day meaning.
So maybe it is only the young ladies that "french kiss" properly, not the men.