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

Throughout history, men and women consumed aphrodisiacs for essentially two reasons: to increase fertility or to enhance performance.  According to its definition, an edible  aphrodisiac is a food, potion, or drug taken to stimulate and arouse sexual excitement.  Many people swear that these work; albeit, some better than others.  Critics say that the foods may have a placebo effect when it comes to enhancing sexual performance, but are not likely to be authentic love potions.

In the ancient world, many food items were seen as having sexual powers.  Not surprising, many of these foods sometimes resembled human genitalia.  Bulbs and eggs and other foods that may have appeared like a seed were often tried for their aphrodisiac properties.  Food was immensely popular to the ancients and its collection was linked to many aspects of life.  Poor nutrition was commonplace and could cause people to experience a drop in both fertility and libido.  Consequently, some foods that could stimulate energy could certainly be thought to have other stimulating effects.

If one is to judge an aphrodisiac by shape alone, it’s not shocking that asparagus tops many lists of sexually enhancing foods.  Asparagus, either boiled or steamed, and eaten for a period of three days is supposed to unlock hidden stores of sexual energy.  The fact that asparagus is also nutritious may make experimenting with it worth try.

Almonds have long been considered an amorous food.  Their shapes have long been compared to the eyes of beautiful eastern women.  In regard to sex, almonds are said to increase the power of fertility and enhance female passion.  Keeping a few on the nightstand is easy and almonds are also a nutritious snack; so, one way or another, you are likely to benefit by eating handful.

Translated, the Aztec name for avocado means “testicle tree,” so it is little wonder that avocados were eaten to increase desire and enhance sexual pleasure.  Like many fruits, avocados have a delicious texture that lends itself well to aphrodisiac lore.

The Aztecs were also some of the first chocolate connoisseurs and they were not shy about consuming it for its aphrodisiac benefits.  With more antioxidants than a glass of wine and a caffeine kick to boot, chocolate can provide a bit of a heady rush that lends itself well to the sex department.

Still, if a box of chocolates doesn’t work for her this Valentine’s Day, try offering a package of licorice.  The Chinese believed that licorice could stimulate lust in a woman and increase passion.  Licorice root has been used in folk medicines since ancient times.

Honey is a well-known aphrodisiac that has been used in potions, medicines, and cooking since ancient Egyptian times.  Honey is also a main ingredient in mead, an alcoholic beverage that was consumed in ancient times as well.  Medieval couples were known to drink mead on the wedding night to induce passion.

The Romans made oysters out to be popular aphrodisiacs.  Even today, many people are aware of this food’s amorous past and eat them accordingly.  Nutritious and full of protein, the Romans may not have valued these traits, but they believed that oysters and wine could lead a woman to lose her inhibitions and act with wanton abandon.

Vanilla—both the taste and smell—have been linked to sex over the centuries.  In fact, some studies by perfume companies have found that the scent chosen most often as a favorite among men and women was vanilla.  Add a touch of vanilla to coffee or a vanilla bean to champagne and you may have the makings of an erotic evening.

Perhaps less romantic than chocolate and vanilla, bananas and carrots (for obvious reasons) were also known aphrodisiacs.  Their suggestive shapes ranked them high on the list of aphrodisiacs and they have been eaten by various royal pairs from history in order to increase fertility.

Other important aphrodisiacs from history include fennel, coriander, garlic, figs, ginger, basil, broccoli, aniseed, strawberries, celery, squash, mustard, cinnamon, parsley, chili peppers, nutmeg, papaya, raspberries, caviar, crab, pomegranates, peaches, oats, mangoes, tomatoes, pistachio nuts, snails, turnips, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, and truffles.  Of course, these foods are easy enough to find in your local markets, but some cultures included more exotic edibles that will not likely top your grocery lists like a tiger’s testicles or a Spanish fly.

Keep in mind, just as the ancients suggested that some foods could powerfully enhance sex and fertility, they also believed that other types of food could greatly detract them.  Some of these include lettuce, rue, dill, and watercress.

It’s also interesting to note, that while there have been studies of drugs used to treat male impotence, there have been very few inquiries from modern science into the value of aphrodisiacs.  While disbelievers may scoff at their abilities to work wonders for our sex lives, others believe they have the ability to work sexual miracles.  Of course, since many taste great, are basically nutritious for you and far safer than illicit drugs like the notorious sex drug Ecstasy, it may not hurt to give some of these ancient love elixirs a try!

By J. A. Young