Smell is our most powerful sense and using essential oils is a great way to kickstart libido and inspire passion and love in the home.

Tapping in to each of our senses is the quickest way to reawaken libido, says Val Sampson, a couples’ counsellor who runs workshops on increasing sexual energy. Smell is the most powerful of the senses and has a strong effect on the mind and emotion. ‘It can change our mood and transport us into another place’, says Val.

Scent affects the oldest part of the human brain – the limbic system. It is recognised instantly by the body unlike the other senses, which take a more circuitous route. The limbic system is now known to control all emotion and memory, says Elisabeth Millar, owner of Fragrant Veil Perfumes. Through its connections to the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, it controls all functions of survival including reproduction.

Using essential oils is an excellent way to change mood and switch gears from work to play. Even after the scent has disappeared its effects continue to work on us. The oils listed below have sensual properties and can help increase desire and love. Select a couple and use the recommended number of drops.

Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Clove, Jasmine, Neroli, Patchouli, Pine, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetivert, and Ylang Ylang.

How to use them

The oils can be used in several ways:

• As incense
• In a diffuser to fragrance the air.
• As a bath oil to relax you.
• On your face, body and hair as a beauty aid.
• As a massage oil, if added to a base oil such as sweet almond.

During Roman times women would scent their face and body with different oils, to achieve the inspired effect.

Sensual bathing

Bathing is grounding and reconnects your body and mind, especially if you add sensual oils. Always add the oil after the bath is full otherwise the fragrance disperses. Elisabeth Millar suggests the following combinations:

• For mischief and playfulness:

1 drop Rosemary

1 drop Patchouli

2 drops Bergamot

2 drops Orange

• For love and romance:

2 drops Rose

4 drops Sandalwood

Both are aphrodisiacs that work in harmony to blend masculine and feminine energies.

Body lotions

Add a couple of drops of your chosen oil to an unperfumed body lotion. Rub in slowly and sensually to give your body a treat. For seduction combine 3 drops of Orange oil and 3 drops of Neroli with one tablespoon of sweet almond oil.

• Passion oil

For a body lotion that inspires passion combine 2 drops of Bergamot with 1 drop of Black Pepper, 1 drop of Patchouli, 2 drops of Sandalwood and 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil.

Sensual massage

Massage is a great way to relax, recharge and get in touch with your sensual side.

For firmer, softer breasts add 1 drop of Ylang Ylang to 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil and massage into the breasts.

For hand-holding add 1 drop of Rose to 1 teaspoon of Jojoba.

To play footsie, add 1 drop of Jasmine, 1 drop of Ylang Ylang to one teaspoon of Jojoba.

Bedroom scents

To help you make the transition from work to play, combine 3 drops of lavender with 3 drops of Marjoram in an oil burner.

Resources

The Fragrant Veil: Essential Oil Recipes to Enhance the Sensuous Pleasures of Living and Loving, by Elisabeth Millar (Capricorn Press Ltd).

How to Have Great Sex for the Rest of Your Life, by Val Sampson and Julia Cole (Piatkus, 2004).