Scent is the silent language of sexuality. We are affected by the scents around us, by the scents of others and especially by the scent of our lover. By adorning yourself with certain scents or adding the right scents to your bedroom and home you can create a sensual and romantic atmosphere your lover is sure to respond to.

Our sense of smell is tied directly to the part of the brain that is linked to memory and emotion. Research studies have proven that different scents can actually produce different emotions and reactions; they can make us feel a certain way. Odors have been shown to penetrate the human subconscious causing reactions such as changes in blood pressure, respiration and pulse rate.

Once a smell is remembered it is rarely forgotten. A scent can stir basic emotions and feelings. Memories can be recalled instantly just from the whiff of a familiar scent. A smell like your mother’s perfume or your dad’s aftershave can transport you back in time to your childhood. Our sense of smell is over ten thousand times more sensitive than our sense of taste. A healthy young person can distinguish and recognize over thousands of different odors.

Vanilla, Lavender, and Sandalwood

Aromatherapy has been used for over 5000 years from Ancient Egypt to Modern Europe in the 1920’s and 1930’s where French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse coined the term aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has often been used in sexual practices and rituals throughout many cultures and time periods. Perfumes and sweet smelling herbs have played important roles in religion and sex magic. Many plants are known for their amorous properties and their scents have been used around the world. The “alchemy of scent” has charmed and lured both men and women, it has been used to attract lovers, heal a relationship; it has been used in the art of seduction and mentioned in the Kama Sutra. Cleopatra was known to have used a special blend of rose, cardamom, and cinnamon to seduce Marc Anthony. Basil was used by young Italian women to charm and bewitch potential lovers, ancient Arabic manuals giving advice on sexual matters refer to Black Pepper for its erotic qualities, Ginger was used by the Romans for its sexual enhancement properties, an Italian princess used Neroli to fragrance her gloves and bathing water, and Tantric disciples smeared Sandalwood on their bodies while celebrating sexual ecstasy.

Aromatherapy is a part of creating perfumes. The arcane science of perfume has also been used for thousands of years and is based on laws of “vibration” and “psycho-sensory” responses observed over long periods of time. A truly “magical” formula will work on both the conscious and subconscious mind to illicit a predetermined response. There are many scents and scent blends that will cause sexual responses.  The modern perfume industry is still trying to create the perfect aphrodisiac by using blends of scent. Perfumes are designed to attract, allure, and cause arousal. It is all erotic aromatherapy.

By using sexual aromatherapy and anointing yourself with certain oils you can become irresistible to your lover. You can create a sensual ambience in your bedroom and throughout your home by using the aromatic essences. Essential oils can be used to increase sensual and sexual energies.

The essential oils and scents I am going to describe have been chosen for their known aphrodisiacal properties. These essential oils can be used in diffusers, burners, candles, incense, scent rings, scented potpourri, perfumes and colognes, added to bath water or added to massage oils to create a sexually enticing atmosphere in your bedroom and throughout your entire home. These scents can be used alone or in special blends to create the type of sexual atmosphere and sexual response you want.

Two of my personal favorite scents are vanilla and cinnamon. Vanilla is a very soothing scent, is known for its healing and calming properties and has been used in many “love” perfumes and potions throughout history. Cinnamon is universally known as an aphrodisiac. In a study of male response to fragrances, the most seductive of all the fragrances was a spicy cinnamon roll. It caused more blood flow to the penis than any other scent. I guess that explains why my husband always seems to have an erection, I have cinnamon scented candles and potpourri everywhere, not to mention cinnamon scented lotions and body sprays. All this time I thought it was me that made him so aroused when it was really the cinnamon. The erotic runners up in the “scentuality” study were pumpkin pie, lavender and doughnuts. Funny, I’ve never thought of pumpkin pie or doughnuts as sexy.

Other scents known for their aphrodisiac qualities are:

Basil has a sweet, spicy aroma. It has many associations with love, seduction and fertility. Basil awakens the senses and can arouse the basic sexual instincts. It can be used to reawaken a sexual relationship, help ease mental, emotional and physical fatigue and used in massage oils to remove weariness.
Do not use during pregnancy.

Bergamot can enhance the mood of lovers. Its lemon and floral aroma can lift a loved one’s spirit and it is able to alleviate tension and anxiety.

Black Pepper can add spice and vitality to a love life. It has warming, penetrating and strengthening properties that can rekindle the flames of passion. It emits a spicy aroma that arouses the senses and supplies stamina and strength.

Cardamom is a very magnetic essence used for sexual attraction.

Cedarwood opens emotions and helps lovers enter a spiritual dimension in their lovemaking. It can sooth fears and anxieties and draws lovers into a blissful and sensual reality.
Avoid using during pregnancy.

Clary Sage is deeply sensual with relaxing and calming properties to decrease inhibitions. It boosts libido and dissolves fears and anxieties.
Coriander is worn to attract a lover and it is also known for being able to keep a love relationship harmonious.

Frankincense has a haunting aroma. It can bring depth and meaning to a relationship, heighten awareness and enhance communication. It can stimulate the senses and comfort the mind.

Ginger is pungent and spicy. It will boost vitality and heat up the libido. Use it to inflame passion and desire.

Geranium is a scent that adds a sustaining and restoring quality to a relationship. It can help open communication in a relationship.

Jasmine is heady and exotic. It is used to capture, sustain or rekindle the affections of a loved one. It promises deep and lasting affection. It brings strength and warmth to a sexual relationship.
Avoid using during pregnancy.

Juniper is a scent that cleanses negative feelings and has stimulating properties. Use it to get rid of insecurities and form trust.
Avoid during pregnancy.

Lavender is a scent that is soothing to the heart. It relaxes and balances with its comforting aroma. Use it to heal and nurture a relationship and sooth the mind.
Avoid use during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Lime is a scent that adds cheer and laughter to romance and increases the appetite for desire and passion. Lime fills the atmosphere with joy and lightness. It eases anxiety and clears the path for communication.

Neroli Absolute is seductive. It evokes a sense of contentment and eases communication. It acts as an aphrodisiac.

Orange is a scent that brings warmth and cheerfulness to a relationship. It encourages joy and sensitivity.

Patchouli has a deep, musky and lingering aroma associated with earthy sensuality and spiritual elevation. It is very sexually provocative and decreases inhibition and encourages desire.

Rose Absolute is a scent with aphrodisiac and sexual healing properties. It is emotionally uplifting and opens the heart. Avoid use during pregnancy.

Sandalwood has a sweet and woody aroma. It has been used in ritualistic sexual practices celebrating the divinity of sexual ecstasy. It encourages emotional openness and enhances physical sensuality. It creates spontaneous interaction and helps lovers get out of a sexual rut.

Ylang Ylang is an erotic scent that acts as a powerful aphrodisiac. It increases libido and enhances attraction between lovers. It can sooth the over anxious while boosting low energy. It opens emotions and promotes a more sensual and erotic experience during lovemaking.

These essential oils can be found in health food stores, new age shops, in catalogs and online. A little goes a long way. Only a few drops are needed when added to water or other oils. Experiment with scents to create a custom blend that can greatly enhance your sexual appetite and experience. Using scent as an aphrodisiac can be a greatly rewarding experience for both you and your lover. Do not give up if it takes awhile to find the perfect scent or combinations of scent. Once you do find the perfect blend of sexual aromatherapy scents you will have a truly ‘scentual’ experience.

By Roxanne Rhoads

Pheromone research has been extensive in the animal kingdom. Pheromones are a naturally occurring chemical compound found in insects, animals, and supposedly humans. When pheromones are secreted they dictate sexual behavior and sexual desire. The term ‘pheromone’ was coined in 1959 by German scientists to describe the sex attractants of insects. The word ‘pheromone’ is based on the Greek words pheran which means to transfer and horman which means to excite.

Animals and insects use pheromones as communication. They can be consciously detected over long distances. They help animals recognize mates, mark territory and signal sexual interest. Animal and insect pheromones are used today in pest control products to lure insects into traps or to repel other insects or animals from coming into a certain territory. Hunters use female animal pheromones to attract the male as prey.

The concept of human pheromones has been debated and researched for years. Dr. Winnifred Cutler, a biologist and behavioral endocrinologist is one of the leading researchers on human pheromones. She has linked pheromones to effects on women’s menstrual cycles and fertility. Male pheromones can cause their female partners to be more fertile, have regular menstrual cycles and milder menopause.

Dr. Cutler’s studies show that women are most affected by pheromones, those of men and of other women. Pheromones explain why women who live together usually menstruate at the same time. Dr. Cutler reports that “It’s remarkable. A very clear pattern has been emerging and it confirms that a woman’s optimal reproductive health is part of a finely tuned system and that a man, on a regular and sustained basis, is an essential part of it.” More studies are being done to see how pheromones can impact and help those who are having fertility problems. So it turns out men are useful to women after all. It’s about time we found out what they were good for.

So how do pheromones work? Humans seem to have lost the capacity to consciously detect pheromones, but the perception is still there on a subconscious level. Scent does go through the most primal part of our brain, the same part that deals with memory and emotion. Odors have been shown to penetrate the human subconscious and cause physical reactions such as change in blood pressure, respiration and pulse rates. The same happens with pheromones. They are subconsciously detected and illicit an internal sexual response. Scientists have found that pheromones are detected through the Vomeronasal Organ in the nose. The vomeronasal organ is located near the entrance of the nose. It detects the pheromones then sends a signal to the brain.

According to an article in “Psychology Today” how we perceive body odors of others is a highly selective process. We usually smell best to someone whose genetic make up is most different than our own. This benefits us in the long run when it comes to producing strong, healthy children. Men are said to secrete the pheromone Androstenone to attract women and women secrete Androstenol to attract men. Though in today’s super clean and hygienic society we often wash away all of our natural scent. In the animal world pheromones still dictate sexual behavior and response. Humans have lost much of that, though there are pheromone products on the market are supposed to help, but are any of the products worth buying? Dr. Winnifred Cutler did a study using a commercial pheromone called Athena, which she developed. Seventy Four percent of those studied experienced increases in hugging, kissing, and sexual intercourse.

What about the rest of the products on the market? Some are pretty expensive. Many companies have taken the research and made their own products making extraordinary claims that these colognes and perfumes will have the opposite sex falling to their feet in front of you or lined up to get into your bed. They claim you will be irresistible to the opposite sex. So I wanted to know if there is any basis to these claims, do any of these products actually work.  So I conducted my own study on several pheromone colognes, sprays, gels and oils.

I enlisted my husband as a guinea pig and took a few pheromone products for a test run. We tried them on each other and wore them out into the real world. No one attacked either one of us though we did receive some extra attention from the opposite sex while wearing some of the products. My conclusion is if you want to make the opposite sex fall at your feet like the ads claim, well it’s not going to happen, but if you want some extra attention or a bit of an edge, they might work to your advantage. If you want to spice up your love life with an existing partner, that is possible.

We found that the products seem to work best when the man and woman are both wearing the corresponding female or male based pheromones. The products that worked best for us were The Edge for him and The Edge for her. When we wore those we had an unbelievable night of lovemaking. Alter Ego products for him and her came in a distant second, but there was definitely a big gap in the response factors. Some other products caused a few blips and interesting responses but believe me, no one was being attacked by strangers and the doors were not being beaten down by any would be lovers.

As far as the other wonderful benefits of human pheromones I can not testify, though I have always pretty much had a man in my life and I’ve never had menstrual problems or fertility issues. I’ll leave those studies to the scientists though who are now doing extensive research on the implications pheromones may have involving fertility and even depression.

By Roxanne Rhoads