Valentine’s Day is a special day to spend quality time with your loved one – whether that’s a spouse, significant other, a date, crush, or simply someone in your family or friends circle that you appreciate having in your life.
A good deal of people don’t believe romance is needed anymore. Yet romance is a sense of excitement and mystery related to love. Although it shouldn’t be limited to one day of the year, Valentine’s Day is a great time to give your home and your partner some love and set the stage for an entire year of romance. Love is like a slow burning fire and it needs to be rekindled every once in a while to keep the sparks flying.
Different people have different ways of describing what is romantic to them. But if you like the world of essential oils (and since you’re on this blog, chances are, you do!), I have some especially exciting news for you: some essential oils can act as superb aphrodisiacs, mood setters and romance enhancers.
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What Is An Aphrodisiac Essential Oil?
An aphrodisiac is a substance that aids and enhances passion and sexual arousal. Aphrodisiacs are not magical pills that will immediately get someone aroused.
Passion and sexual arousal is linked to the individual’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Therefore, even essential oils that aid in relieving stress or anxiety, or other conditions, may act aphrodisiac to some. If low sexual drive is linked to overwhelming feelings of stress or anxiety, for example, then tackling those issues may very well also enhance a person’s libido ¹.
Essential oils are not one-size-fits-all, but they are able to help you relax, and have the power to change your mood.
How to Use Essential Oils for Romance
Not only can essential oils influence how we feel, they can also increase libido and enhance performance for both men and women. To use essential oils specifically for romantic situations, you could choose to use them as perfume or cologne to help you and your partner get in the mood. To create a distinctive and appealing scent, blend essential oils together. Include at least one aphrodisiac essential oil in your blend for best results.
Essential oils may also be used in other ways, aside from just for their sexy scent. Adding essential oils to bath salts can provide you aromatherapy benefits as you soak and get ready for date night.
Or you could prepare a romantic massage for your partner using an essential oil blend for romance. If you have a dinner or appetizers & wine planned, use an essential oils diffuser and diffuse some romantically smelling essential oils in the background to subtly set the mood (find diffuser blend recipes below).
Top 5 Aphrodisiac Essential Oils
Here are the best 5 aphrodisiac essential oils:
1. Ylang Ylang
Ylang ylang is one of the most powerful aphrodisiac essential oils. As a natural sedative, it supports a feeling of deeper connection and helps increase libido in both women and men.
To enjoy Ylang Ylang for more connection to your loved ones, diffuse it in your bedroom, add a drop to your body lotion, or spray your bed sheets or linens with a DIY essential oils room spray.
2. Jasmine
A recent study has proven that Jasmine essential oil has stimulating effects and arouses the autonomic nervous system ². Participants in the test group reported feeling more alert and vigorous after massaging Jasmine essential oil onto their abdomens. They also experienced increased breathing rates and blood oxygen saturation.
To create a Jasmine massage oil, combine 15 mL (=3 teaspoons) of carrier oil with 9 drops of pure Jasmine essential oil. Massage in a circular motion over the abdomen area of your body.
3. Rose
Rose essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils in the perfume industry, and is widely known for its impeccably floral and uplifting scent. Roses (yes, the actual flowers!) are indispensable when creating romance! Emotionally, Rose essential oil aids depression, stress and frigidity ³. It would be especially beneficial to use if the general disinterest in sexual activity may be due to emotional stress or performance anxiety.
Mix 1 teaspoon of carrier oil with 3 drops of essential oil, and rub on your neck, behind your ears, and on the insides of your wrist.
4. Neroli
Another essential oil to aid mental stress, intimacy issues and frigidity, is Neroli essential oil. It has a gentle, warm and uplifting scent. Neroli is a beautiful oil for people who feel sad, tense, and maybe even a bit angry and frustrated 4 – all feelings that can very much affect sex drive and relationship health.
Use Neroli to aid in tension relief by adding it to your DIY bath salts or applying it to a personal diffuser necklace or bracelet.
5. Clary Sage
Clary Sage Essential Oil (Organic and Kid Safe) from Plant Therapy.
Get It Here
Clary Sage is stimulating, euphoric and emotionally uplifting. It is very “feminine” essential oil though so I wouldn’t recommend it for a bedroom diffuser blend or partner massage. However, it can be a fantastic aid if you’re female and struggling with libido, passion and sexual energy.
TIP: Add Clary Sage to your body lotion or cream to enjoy its companionship as you work towards a better sex life.
All of the essential oils listed above are fantastic choices when one wants to make an aromatherapy bath. You may also choose to use them in your essential oil diffuser. Read our tips on how to use your diffuser here.
Diffuser Blends for Romance
Romance is almost synonymous with the word love when you ask the majority of people. Setting a romantic mood, whether for yourself or for the pair of you, doesn’t have to be hard. Here are six quick romantic diffuser blend recipes you can use while you’re getting yourself ready for your romantic outing, or right in the bedroom for the both of you to enjoy!
These blends are created for a standard 150-200 mL diffuser. If your unit holds more water (some mid-size or larger diffusers can hold up to 500 mL of water in a full tank), please adjust the recipe accordingly. This will ensure you still get to enjoy the most powerful scent with the amount of water you have in your diffuser.
1. Mine Forever
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang
- 2 drops Neroli
- 2 drops Cedarwood
2. Sweet Darling
- 1 drop Rose
- 3 drops Neroli
- 1 drop Clary Sage
3. Lovebirds
- 3 drops Clary Sage
- 3 drops Jasmine
4. All You Need Is Love
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang
- 1 drop Patchouli
- 2 drops Cedarwood
5. XOXOXO
- 2 drops Sweet Orange
- 2 drops Neroli
- 1 drops Patchouli
6. Be Mine
- 2 drops Ylang Ylang
- 1 drop Lavender
- 3 drops Neroli
What a fantastic way to celebrate love!
How To Celebrate Valentine’s Day
If you prefer ready-made essential oil blends rather than mixing your own – or if you are looking for that perfect romantic gift – there are also easy romance essential oils kits available for easy purchase. For example, this Plant Therapy Romance Set of 6 x 10 mL Oils in a beautiful wooden box packaging for under $50.
Love is something that you do. It is not just words. It is a great feeling and must be honored at all costs and at all points of time. Some ideas of things you could do for your partner include:
- Prepare a romantic dinner
- Surprise them with a meaningful gift
- Give a romantic massage
- Say especially thoughtful things to them
- Write a personal card
- Acknowledge that “today is Valentine’s Day” and that “you’re my Valentine”
However you choose to incorporate essential oils for Valentine’s Day this year, enjoy this special day!
References
- ¹ Aromatherapy and Aphrodisiacs: https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/aromatherapyaphrodisiacs.asp
- ² Stimulating effect of aromatherapy massage with jasmine oil: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20184043
- ³ Rose Essential Oil: https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/rose-oil.asp
- 4 Neroli: http://herbsformentalhealth.com/neroli/
Penelope Rogal
I am enjoying reading your entire site. You obviously love what you do as it is felt through your writing and the entire site. Thank you for giving us some simple recipes. It is much appreciated.
Paresh
Hi Emma
I like the flow of your writing while promoting a lot of things. You offer valuable advises.
You are great.
Agatha Jones
I loved reading your article, Emma! You suggestions for spicing up one’s love life are great. And, not just for its aphrodisiac effect, but Jasmine oil has great disinfectant and anti-depressant properties. You can also use essential oils like Cedarwood, Lemon Myrtle and Joy for making the most of your candle-light dinner.