Alluring Aromatics
In India, the Hindu God of Love, Kama or Kamadeva is depicted with a bow shooting arrows adorned with fragrant flowers or an arrow tipped with jasmine oil. The most famous sexual manual of all, ‘The Kama Sutra’ or ‘The Scripture of Love’ contains many references to aromatics being essential for the art of love making. In the West, the appeal of perfume still rests largely on the acceptance that certain aromas can create a magnetic attraction from members of the opposite sex. Fragrance is also often referred to in love poetry, because of its subtle, emotive quality: it captures our imagination and our aspirations which is why it is known as ‘the language of dreams’. What can be more appealing than wearing pure and 100% natural botanical perfumes, rather than opting for their synthetic substitutes? Many commercial perfumes contain chemicals which pollute the environment and are also known to increasingly cause allergic reactions, such as headaches or skin rashes.
Of the five senses, our sense of smell is the most mysterious being closest to our unconscious instincts and our ancestral nature. Without knowing it, people communicate sexual attraction to one another to a greater or lesser degree via scent continually. Yet according to one study in the US, 99% of our olfactory input is unconscious which is what makes the subliminal effects of perfume so powerful! This has been recognised for thousands of years, but what is the underlying basis for this ancient connection between scent and sex?
Scent and Sex
In his classic book ‘Studies on the Psychology of Sex’, Havelock Ellis draws a sharp line between olfaction and our other senses:
“…scent makes an appeal that is mainly of an intimate, emotional imaginative character.”
The olfactory area of our brain influences the limbic system which controls our emotions, memory, intuition and sex drive. It also connects with the hypothalamus, which controls our hormonal system to promote feelings of well-being, self-confidence and attractiveness. Hormones are produced and interact within our own body to control a range of functions: for example, during depression our brain struggles to use neurotransmitters such as the ‘feel-good’ hormones, serotonin and dopamine, which play a key role in governing our moods. In addition, when we are suffering from depression, anxiety or fatigue this triggers a stress response in our adrenal glands which can cause a decrease in our sex hormones, thereby impacting our libido levels.
Pheromones: Our own unique signature scent
Pheromones by contrast are produced within the body, but their key function is to influence how others respond to us externally. Pheromones influence our feelings of sexual attraction or repulsion to another person and may even bring about the synchronization of menstrual cycles of women who interact frequently. ‘Pheromones’ from the Greek for ‘transfer’ and ‘excitement’ are fundamentally chemical messengers that act as interactive signals. We all have our own unique signature pheromone scent that is emitted through our sweat glands. Male pheromones can only be transferred by intimate contact whereas female pheromones can be diffused across a room. These pheromones influence our emotions and play a vital role in our attraction to others, evoking feelings such as aversion or sexual arousal.
The Tantric Perfume ‘Aytar’
Androstenone is an important male pheromone which has a scent similar to musk and sandalwood. A recent research study found that women who inhaled sandalwood oil reported increased mood enhancement and higher levels of sexual desire than those who did not. In Indian yoga, sandalwood oil is recommended as a stimulant for men to awaken their kundalini energy.
Conversely, rose is universally associated with the feminine and with love, beauty, the heart and sensuality. Moroccan rose oil, for example, is commonly referred to as an aphrodisiac due to its ability to reduce stress or depression and promote feelings of intimacy, warmth and attraction. Phenylethylamine (PEA), the chemical thought to be responsible for the ‘rush’ felt when falling in love and mimics the effect of a pheromone, is found in both rosewater and chocolate.
In Tantra, the combination of sandalwood and rose oil represent the union of the male and female, a sublime traditional scent reserved for ritual use. When blended together they make the famous perfume ‘Aytar’, which is also a classic remedy employed in the Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal traditions.
Ten Aphrodisiac Essential Oils:
Sandalwood is a natural aphrodisiac which encourages relaxation combined with an enhanced feeling of sensuality. Woody, warm and enveloping, this scent has been used in perfumery for centuries to foster intimacy and to create an inviting atmosphere for seduction. It features in our erotic ‘After Dark‘ body oil blend, having a rich-exotic scent, in this case blended with jasmine. Our 5% Sandalwood oil can be worn as a uni-sex fragrance or applied as an after-shave oil – being a very popular scent with men. Sandalwood Mysore is considered superior for perfumery work.
Rose is known as the ‘Queen of Flowers’ being the traditional token of love and romance, having a beautiful, rich-heady fragrance which uplifts the spirits and soothes the heart. There is a traditional saying: ‘no perfume without rose’ as it seamlessly rounds off any blend. Apply our 5% Rose Maroc as a sensual pulse-point perfume or wear our best-selling rosewater as a lighter summer fragrance. Our ‘Wild Rose‘ body oil has a beautifuuly seductive scent, leaving the skin irresistibly perfumed and is also included in our Rose Gift Box, designed for rose lovers everywhere: I’m one of them! Or choose from our exotic wild rose or our sweetly scented, rose otto natural perfume oils.
Ylang Ylang is a stunning, exotic looking flower, the petals of which are scattered over the bed of newlywed couples on their wedding night in Indonesia. Ylang ylang essential oil is known for increasing libido, especially in women as it increases feelings of happiness, self-confidence and erotism. It has a rich and potent floral aroma which helps alleviate anxiety and increases sexual desire when used as a natural perfume: it is said to have a perfect balance of top, middle and base notes used by itself. A few drops can be added to a warm bath or diffused in the bedroom to create an exotic ambiance. Our ylang ylang extra is the highest-quality oil used as a pulse-point perfume or you can also try our beautiful organic ylang ylang oil.
Patchouli is extensively used in India to scent cloth and is often associated with the hippy trail. It has a complex, earthy-musky oriental scent which is both spicy and sensual, promoting feelings of euphoria, pleasure and well-being … but patchouli oil it is not for everyone as the scent can be quite overpowering. Popular as a perfume, it is one of the main ingredients in our best-selling ‘Unwind‘ body oil. You can also try our organic patchouli as a pulse-point fragrance.
Jasmine is Known as ‘Queen of the Night’ in India, as the sweet, floral scent of jasmine blossom comes alive at night. A potent aphrodisiac, it makes an exquisite pulse-point perfume which promotes relaxation, helps reduce depression and creates a feeling of optimism. Apply a few drops of our 5% jasmine essential oil directly to your wrists and neck as a naturally uplifting perfume or use our jasmine water as a light, uplifting fragrant spritz… or why not use to scent your bed linen before retiring for a romantic evening! You can also try out our divine jasmine sambac oil for a special date night. Our ‘After Dark‘ body oil is based on jasmine oil being ideal for massage between partners or as a sensual body fragrance.
Neroli oil has a delightful floral, slightly green-citrus scent and is one of my all-time favourites! Aphrodisiac, soothing, restorative and uplifting, this is simply one of the best anti-depressant and de-stress perfume oils available: it revives the spirits yet relaxes the nerves simultaneously. Apply a few drops of our 5% neroli essential oil directly to your wrists and neck as a naturally uplifting perfume when you’re out and about. Or use our light neroli flower water as a spritz in the summer. Our heavenly diffusion blend ‘Serenity‘ is based on neroli oil, which makes an ideal bedroom fragrance.
Cardamom is a classic aphrodisiac oil with a warming and stimulating effect. It has a sweet, spicy, slightly nutty aroma which relieves mental fatigue and increases feelings of sensuality. Cardamom like cinnamon & black pepper is known to increase the beta-activity in the wave patterns of our brain, characteristic of a state of arousal or euphoria. It is a valuable oil to use in blends in minute amounts, as it can easily overpower other fragrances.
Clary Sage is a powerful euphoric and a slightly narcotic oil which like nutmeg, tuberose and vanilla can help boost libido levels. A natural aphrodisiac, clary sage eases depression and nervous tension whilst increasing a sense of well-being and pleasure. It makes a lovely, richly sensual bedroom fragrance used in a vaporiser or try adding a few drops to a warm evening bath for an extra lift. However, this oil should not be used in combination with drinking alcohol due to its narcotic effect.
Ginger has been used as a traditional remedy and spice for thousands of years especially in the East. It is a powerful stimulant and tonic with aphrodisiac properties. The Romans added it to their wine to ‘ginger’ it up and in Senegal, women use ginger root to attract the amorous attentions of their men! On a psychological level, is has a warming and uplifting effect on the emotions having a fiery, fresh and slightly green aroma. Ginger essential oil adds warmth to any blend but is an irritant when applied to the skin directly.
Myrtle The fragrance of myrtle is still considered a potent aphrodisiac throughout Greece and in the Middle East, where the freshly strewn leaves are used for scenting rooms and the flowers feature in bridal bouquets. According to myth, the goddess Aphrodite hid her nakedness behind a sweet myrtle bush and the plant has always been associated with the qualities of beauty, innocence and love: its name derives from the Greek myrtos, the ‘herb of love’.