For thousands of years, women have used fragrances to entice and seduce men. Cleopatra was famed for her extravagant use of roses to make herself more desirable to her lovers. An account of Mark Anthony’s visit to Egypt describes how the Egyptian queen ordered her maids to scatter hundreds of rose petals in her chamber, which completely covered the floor. Mark Anthony was said to be so overwhelmed by the scent that by the time he reached Cleopatra’s bed he literally fell into her arms.
Touch And Smell During Couple Massage
The senses of touch and smell provide the perfect combination for a sensual experience. Pouring warm oil onto your partner allows your hands to glide smoothly over their skin and explore the contours of their body with long, continuous strokes. And by using essential oils that soothe and relax, stimulate and arouse, couples can enhance the aphrodisiac effects of a massage blend.
Many essential oils are reputed aphrodisiacs, such as jasmine and rose, while others have a similar effect by releasing tension and anxiety and helping to lower inhibitions, such as rosewood and ylang ylang.
Selecting Essential Oils For Sensual Massage
The following essential oils are thought to create a mood-enhancing atmosphere with aphrodisiac effects:
- jasmine: this night-time fragrance is said to reveal the inner temptress hidden in every woman and its floral scent is surprisingly pleasing to men
- rose: the best known of all aphrodisiacs, this oil has a subtle yet captivating aroma
- sandalwood: this sweet woody scent has a seductive allure to both men and women
- ylang ylang: this oil is known to release inhibitions and boost sexual confidence
Essential oils that soothe the emotions and release tension and anxiety are also helpful to sensual massage, such as cedarwood, geranium and neroli, while other oils can produce euphoric effects, such as frankincense and rosewood. Adding a drop of black pepper, cardamom or ginger to a massage blend helps to spice things up.
Using Essential Oils Safely
Always blend a massage oil in a two-percent dilution of essential oil to carrier oil to avoid the possibility of skin reactions or sensitisation. This also ensures a subtle rather than overpowering scent. As a guide use the dilutions below:
- 6 drops essential oil to 15ml carrier oil
- 8 drops essential oil to 20ml carrier oil
- 10 drops essential oil to 25ml carrier oil
- 12 drops essential oil to 30ml carrier oil
The amount of massage oil that is needed will depend on the size of both partners or the body area that is to be massaged, and the absorption factor of a person's skin. Some people absorb oil quickly while others absorb oil slower. For men, more oil is often needed because it is absorbed quickly or because it makes it easier to move over hairier areas of the body such as chest and legs.
Never pour oil onto the hands while holding them above your partner’s face as the oil may drip in their eyes.
If either you or your partner have sensitive skin, patch test the massage blend before use.
Follow the same safety considerations for sensual massage as for aromatherapy massage when using essential oils. If you or your partner have any contraindications then seek advice from an aromatherapist before using essential oils during massage. For women who are pregnant, seek advice from a medical professional before using essential oils or participating in massage. As a general rule essential oils should not be used during the first three months of pregnancy, and thereafter only those listed as safe for pregnancy (such as neroli, mandarin and petitgrain) at a one percent dilution.
Emma Tennant - Emma trained with Neal's Yard Remedies Ltd and qualified as an aromatherapist in 2005. She went on to practise aromamassage for one year ...
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