valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so you should start thinking about which natural fragrance you are going to woo your true love with this year!  There are several essential oils that have aphrodisiac properties.  I’ve included a list of my favorite essential oils for romance before, but here’s a quick recap on some of my favorites – with a new addition, cacao absolute (Theobroma cacao).  Enjoy this quick look at essential oils with aphrodisiac properties!

Romantic Rose Essential Oil

Rose (Rosa damscena) is a favorite flower for brides, so it is no surprise that rose essential oil is up there among the favorite fragrances.  Rose was prized by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, both in love and skincare products.  Cleopatra of Egypt and Josephine Bonaparte of France are just two historical figures who were known to use rose, in one form or another, to seduce lovers.

Rose essential oil is a base note oil, and consequently it is a heavy fragrance.  Some people do not like the aroma of rose essential oil for this reason as too much of it can cause headaches.  However, you shouldn’t dismiss it because of this, as rose oil is useful for the skin, in addition to its aphrodisiac properties. Pure rose essential oil is expensive; if you see it priced cheaply, it is most probably a substitute or an adulterated oil. Combine rose oil in a massage lotion or oil or add a few drops to a romantic bath for your lover this Valentine’s Day!

Heady Patchouli Essential Oil for Your Valentine

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) has been used as perfume base, since its introduction to Europe from the Far East in the 1800’s.  However, it became popular in the hippie era of the 1960’s when it was frequently used as an incense.  For this reason, most people either love or hate the scent of patchouli oil, depending on what past memories it brings back!

Patchouli essential oil is a heady, base note oil.  It can also be used in a massage oil or added to a romantic bath for sensual delight!

Bridal Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) is also an exotic essential oil – both in name and nature – used for love and romance.  In Indonesia, the flowers of Ylang Ylang are laid out on the bed of the bride and the groom, in an attempt to stimulate passion. Ylang Ylang oil has historically been used as a tonic to help overcome sexual difficulties. However, this oil may cause headaches if you use too much of it.  One of my personal favorite fragrances is to combine ylang ylang essential oil with a lighter citrus aroma such as sweet orange (Citrus sinensis).

Neroli Essential Oil for Weddings

Neroli, or orange blossom, (Citrus aurantium var. amara) also has associations with brides and weddings.  Victorian brides wore a sprig of neroli in their head dress and carried neroli in the bridal bouquet in an attempt to calm nerves and stimulate romance on the wedding night! Neroli essential oil is often adulterated so be sure to choose pure neroli oil for true aphrodisiac effects.

Chocolate Essential Oil for Love

Cacao absolute (Theobroma cacao) is made from the cacao beans of the cacao tree; it has a rich, dark chocolate aroma. An absolute is extracted in a different way to an essential oil and does not contain 100% “natural” ingredients. Absolutes are made from a concrete by alcohol extraction (a concrete uses a hydrocarbon solvent to extract the oil from the plant).

Although solvents are introduced into the equation, and therefore eliminate some of the therapeutic properties that an essential oil retains, an absolute is preferable over a synthetically produced fragrance oil for making cosmetic aromatheraoy products because it does actually contain some plant properties. The main use of cacao absolute is in the perfumery industry as oppose to therapeutic aromatherapy practice – but that doesn’t mean that you can’t seduce your true love with some chocolate aromatherapy this Valentine’s Day!

Enjoy!

References:

• Lawless, Julia, 1995, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, UK:Thorsons
• Caddy, Rosemary, 1997, Essential Oils in Colour UK: Amberwood Publishing Ltd
• Author’s own experience and training

Visit the Sedona Aromatherapie webstore to search for aromatherapy for romance and chocolate aromatherapy products!  I just added a new chocolate body butter to the webstore too!