Setting The Mood
Preciously fragranced room sprays, body mists, bath oils, massage oils, and other natural aromatics can enhance a romantic evening or add variety and intrigue to your marriage.
Planning in advance for special dates, evenings or other moments can help set the mood for a beautiful and quiet (or lively!) occasion. Putting special thought into all the factets of a beautiful evening will make your partner feel special and appreciated, and will make the event unforgettable in his/her mind. Much, however, can also be said about the benefits and wonders of spontaneous moments. Impromptu moments can rule out including some aromatic practices, but it is also possible to plan ahead for spontaneity. A lovely selection of natural aromatics can be purchased or prepared in advance so that you have them on hand for when the mood strikes. Read on for ideas.
A Word of Caution Before We Get Started…
We are all unique and differ in our appreciation and awareness of the sensory cues around us. At any given moment, we have unique sights, sounds, aromas, tastes and textures all demanding our attention. Some individuals prefer to maintain consistency in their surroundings and have a harder time than others in embracing new sensations. If you are unfamiliar with the preferences, limitations, allergies or possible sensitizations of the individual that has captured your romantic interest, it’s best to play it safe and limit your use of aromatics until you know more. It’s less spontaneous, but it’s caring and safe!
Aphrodisiac/Sensual Essential Oils
An aphrodisiac is generally defined as a substance that enhances or stimulates passion and sexual arousal. Substances, including essential oils, that are considered aphrodisiacs are substances that can help dissipate the physical, psychological or emotional ailments that may interfere with sexual desire or arousal.
Room Fragrancing
If planning a romantic evening at home that begins with dinner, select essential oils and oil blends that will complement the aroma of your meal or other aromas that may be present throughout the evening. Start with light, fresh, energizing aromas and lead to more sultry, exotic blends as the night progresses. Remember that less is more and not to overpower the room. If you or your partner smoke, consider diffusing lemon essential oil or including it in a blend to help rid the smoky odor from the room.
Room Sprays / Room Mists
A quick and easy way to sensually and naturally fragrance a room is to create a room spray in advance. A room spray is especially practical for those beautiful, spontaneous moments where minimal advance planning is the key ingredient.
Candles
Candles are frequently used to make romantic evenings more sensual. They simultaneously delight three of our senses. They tantalize our sight with their soft, flickering light. Fragranced candles heat the aromatics embedded within their wax and disperse the aroma throughout a room. They also generate heat and provide warmth to the skin.
When selecting candles for your most erotic or romantic evenings, choose candles that are fragranced only with essential oils or that are not fragranced at all. If you must use candles that are fragranced with synthetic fragrance oils, select candles that are lightly fragranced with a delicate, mysterious and arousing scent. Although an old addage says “The way to a man’s or woman’s heart is through his/her stomach,” I’d suggest saving your sugar cookie and pumpkin pie candles for holiday entertaining or other fun purposes.
Incense
The term incense is a broad term for perfumed dry aromatics that are burned. Countless forms of incense are available, but most are manufactured using synthetic ingredients. Some incense, most notably incense powders, cones and Japanese incense is available that contains only natural ingredients. Incense, when slowly burned, and when burned in a manner that doesn’t overpower a room can stimulate the senses. Incense, most notably those that include sandalwood, aloeswood, cinnamon, frankincense and sensual woods and herbs can simultaneously ease stress and enhance arousal.
Fresh Flowers
No aroma is purer than the aroma that permeates directly from freshly cut aromatic flowers, herbs and other fragrant botanicals. Create your own fragrant bouquets to complement your passionate evenings.
Rose Petals
Rose petals are not only beautiful, they are delightfully aromatic and velvety soft. They can be sprinkled upon the bed, upon a beautiful tablecloth awaiting a lovely meal, or even sprinkled as a “come hither” path leading your lover to you. Call your local florist or nursery to obtain fresh petals.
A Word About Unpleasant Household Odors
Stale odors, smoke and other unpleasant aromas can be unappealing at any time let alone during your most special occasions. Whenever possible, try to fully eliminate unpleasant odors and don’t just try to mask them. Keep your fridge and garbage cans free of decaying produce, meat stuffs and other smelly items by taking out your trash frequently. If you smoke, try to smoke outside whenever possible. Wash draperies and freshen fabrics regularly. Use a kitchen fan if you cook a lot of meat/fish.
Dinnertime
Select foods that you and your partner like, and that are fun or sensual to eat. Get creative. Foods that have been considered aphrodisiacs for their texture, shape or nutritional value includes oysters, avocados, cocoa (chocolate), asparagus, and strawberries/raspberries.
Bathtime
Using sensual essential oils, create a luxurious bath oil or sensual bath salts for that next special bath.
Showertime
If you both prefer showering over bathing, you can still enjoy the natural aroma of essential oils during your shower ritual. After turning on the water and allowing it to get hot, sprinkle 2-3 drops of essential oil on the sides of your shower. The oils will disperse into the steam-filled air. Make sure that the surface that you drop the oils on will not become damaged (essential oils are highly concentrated) or stained.
Snacktime
Prepare a beautifully adorned snack plate that includes nourishing bite-size portions of fruit or cheese that you and your partner can serve to on another.
Rose Against Skin
After removing the thorns, gently brush the velvety tip of a long stemmed rose against the nose of your partner, allowing him or her to enjoy the aroma, and then glide the velvety tip across your partner’s skin. The combination of the aroma and feeling as it glides against the skin can be sensual and arousing.
Travel/Vacationing/Spontaneity Amongst the suggestions above are an array of ideas that can be used even when you are away from home or when you don’t have time earlier in the day to prepare. Described above, room mists, personal fragrances, linen sprays, bath oils and massage oils can all be prepared in advance and kept on hand for when the mood strikes. They can also be transported in your luggage (keep carry on luggage restrictions in mind) and kept on hand when you travel.
