Is there a difference between 'sexual allure' and 'sex appeal'?
A “hot bench.” This titillating expression has nothing to do with sexual allure or erotic practices. It refers to a court where judges frequently and aggressively interrupt lawyers with questions. In the United States there’s even a TV show starting this fall called Hot Bench, produced by Judy Sheindlin (who makes $45 million a year for her court show Judge Judy). http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/5114/The-SCC-bench-is-hot.html

Can I substitute 'sex appeal' for 'sexual allure in the above paragraph? Or do you notice some difference?

Question

Is there a difference between 'sexual allure' and 'sex appeal'?
A “hot bench.” This titillating expression has nothing to do with sexual allure or erotic practices. It refers to a court where judges frequently and aggressively interrupt lawyers with questions. In the United States there’s even a TV show starting this fall called Hot Bench, produced by Judy Sheindlin (who makes $45 million a year for her court show Judge Judy). http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/5114/The-SCC-bench-is-hot.html

Can I substitute 'sex appeal' for 'sexual allure in the above paragraph? Or do you notice some difference?

Answer

Although they do have very similar meanings there is a difference in this case. Sexual allure means that it is tempting you to carry out an action or do something.

Sexual appeal can be just appealing to look at or observe.

"Those clothes give her sex appeal"

"The dance is sexually alluring"

"Allure"

Definitions
verb

(transitive) to entice or tempt (someone) to a person or place or to a course of action; attract

noun

attractiveness; appeal   ⇒ "the cottage's allure was its isolation"

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/allure

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