Aphrodisiac Essential Oils (With Recipes)
Our sense of smell is very powerful. When we inhale essential oils, they go directly to the limbic system of our brain, which is where we process emotions. Our bodies respond quickly to scent. Inhaling essential oils, such as the ones listed below, can act like a love potion, improving your mood and increasing arousal.
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What Are Aphrodisiac Essential Oils
Aromatherapy has been used throughout history, to stir desire and create romantic ambiance.
Essential oils are distilled from plants, and some are traditionally associated with love and passion.
Each essential oil contains unique properties and benefits, such as relieving stress and anxious feelings, and physical tension. They can also improve mood, and energize the body and mind.
When used regularly, essential oils can support hormone balancing, bringing us back to hormonal equilibrium.
Applying and diffusing essential oils can help set the mood for intimacy and romance.
9 Essential Oils for Intimacy
Here are some essential oils that can help support your libido.
It’s not an exhaustive list. Any essential oil that helps you feel more relaxed and in tune with your body can have aphrodisiac properties.
Spicy Oils
Spicy essential oils are long associated with love and romance. Think of the cinnamon heart candies that we used to get around Valentine’s Day! Spicy essential oils help improve blood flow, and have warming and stimulating properties.
Use spicy essential oils with caution – they can be hot! Be sure to read my safety precautions listed at the end of the article.
1. Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
Everyone loves the smell of cinnamon. This sweet, spicy aroma evokes warm, loving feelings. Cinnamon oil is a warming oil, and helps promote circulation. The scent can help improve libido.
2. Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger essential oil is warming, stimulating, and grounding. It has long been used as a natural stimulant, to help increase libido. It can also help increase blood flow.
3. Black Pepper Essential Oil
Black pepper essential oil, like other spice oils, is a warming oil that helps increase blood flow. Known as the ‘King of Spices’, black pepper oil is supportive to human health, including sexual function.
Floral Oils
There are a wide range of floral essential oils that can promote feelings of love and connectedness.
4. Jasmine Essential Oil
The pure white jasmine flower is associated with love and romance. Known as the ‘King of Flowers’, jasmine oil has a fresh, sweet, floral aroma.
Sourced from Egypt, jasmine oil is often worn as a natural perfume.
It improves mood, increases relaxation, and helps to boost confidence.
Jasmine oil is beneficial for both men and women.
Jasmine essential oil is derived from the delicate jasmine flowers
5. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang ylang essential oil is sourced from the star-shaped flowers of the tropical Ylang Ylang tree, and is known for its sweet, perfume-like aroma.
It helps to support mood, reduces anxious feelings, and helps increase feelings of desire.
Ylang ylang increases our sense of safety and security.
It blends beautifully with patchouli oil.
Mint & Citrus Oils
Mint and citrus oils are mood-lifting and invigorating. They can help you feel more alert and focused. These would be great to diffuse if you’re feeling “not in the mood”.
6. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is cooling and invigorating. Its cooling effect makes it excellent for a massage oil, as it can relax tense muscles, and increase blood flow.
7. Bergamot Essential Oil
Derived from the peel of the bergamot citrus fruit, this tangy and uplifting oil helps to improve mood and positivity.
Whether diffused, or blended into a massage oil, bergamot helps set the stage for connection and intimacy.
Woody & Earthy Oils
There are many woody and earthy essential oils, known for their aphrodisiac properties.
8. Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood is one of the best-known aphrodisiac essential oils. Its grounding properties can help you feel more connected to, and protected by, your partner.
Its intoxicating fragrance can also boost feelings of desire.
Sandalwood oil would be a great addition to a homemade massage oil, or as a base for homemade perfume or cologne.
Essential Oil Blends
Essential oil blends contain multiple single oils, blended together for a specific purpose. Often, this is a more cost-effective way to get started with essential oils, because then you don’t have to buy each oil individually.
9. Passion Essential Oil Blend
Just want to buy one essential oil? This beautiful blend called Passion has you covered. It’s a gorgeous blend of floral, citrus, and spice essential oils.
Passion contains spice oils like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger; florals like jasmine, magnolia, and ylang ylang; citrus oils like wild orange and bergamot, and blended with the romantic sweetness of tonka bean and vanilla absolute.
This is my absolute favorite essential oil blend for intimacy. I add this to my lotion pump, so it helps me feel loving toward myself every time I apply it.
How to Use Essential Oils to Set the Mood
Perfume or Cologne
When mixed with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or grapeseed oil, essential oils can be applied topically, as a natural perfume.
Bath
To add essential oils to a relaxing, sensual bath, you’ll want to first mix them with epsom salts, as an emulsifier. I usually put some epsom salts in a mason jar, add a few drops of essential oils, and shake.
You’ll want to avoid overly ‘hot’ or ‘cooling’ oils, as when mixed with water, these can create an uncomfortable sensation on your skin. I would avoid cinnamon, black pepper, and peppermint oils in the bath.
Massage
Create your own, all-natural sensual massage oil. Fill an empty container with your carrier oil of choice. Then add a few drops each of your selected essential oils. Mix well, and use for massage.
Alternatively, you can add some carrier oil directly to your hand, then add a couple drops of essential oil. Rub your palms together to warm them up before applying to skin.
The simple act of physical touch helps us to release love hormones.
Diffuse
Essential oils can be diffused, to help fill the air with the scent and benefits of essential oils. Because essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds, they easily release scent, and will help set the mood for intimacy in the bedroom. Here are some of my favorite essential oil diffusers.
Diffusers are a good choice for those who don’t want to apply essential oils directly to their skin.
Date Night Essentials Recipes
Here are some recipes for you to try, with your aphrodisiac oils.
Soft Lips
Mix together 4 tsp brown sugar, 3 tsp honey, 3 tsp coconut oil, and 2 drops each:
Scrub lips in a circular motion and rinse. Store in the fridge.
Pucker Up!
Add a drop of peppermint to your lip gloss and apply.
Enjoy the tingling sensation and plumped lips.
Sexy Sheet Spray
- 10 drops Bergamot
- 5 drops Sandalwood
- 2 drops Ylang Ylang
- 2 drops Lime
Add to a 2 oz glass spray bottle and top with distilled water. Shake & spray over bed sheets & pillows.
Sensual Massage Oil
1-2 drops each:
- Ylang Ylang
- Wild Orange
- Sandalwood
- Ginger
Add to 2 tsp almond or fractionated coconut oil and use for a romantic massage.
Essential Oil Safety Precautions
- While hot oils, like cinnamon, are associated with love and romance, they are spicy! Hot essential oils are best used in a diffuser
- When using pure, high quality essential oils, they will be especially potent. Use a very small amount when applying to skin. One drop goes a long way! It’s important to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying to skin. My preferred carrier oil is fractionated coconut oil (which is just coconut oil that remains in liquid form).
- If you get essential oils in your eye, or if it’s uncomfortable on your skin, do NOT try to wash off with water. Water will drive the oils further in. Instead, you want to further dilute them with your carrier oil. Just apply your carrier oil to the location of discomfort until it subsides.
- Citrus essential oils are photosensitive. If you apply citrus essential oils to your skin, avoid exposing your skin to sunlight.
- Mint oils have a cooling sensation that some people find uncomfortable. You may wish to avoid using it on the skin, or dilute it well.
- Over 90% of essential oils on the market are adulterated – meaning they contain fillers, additives, pesticides, and artificial fragrance. Know your brands, and choose only truly pure essential oils.
Where to Purchase Essential Oils
I’ve used dōTERRA essential oils for over a decade, and it’s the only brand I use and trust. The quality and purity is second to none.
You can purchase these essential oils at a 25% discount below:
Sandalwood
- Used in aromatherapy to help relieve headaches.
- Used in aromatherapy as a nervine and calmative.
- Used in aromatherapy to help relieve colds and cough.
Bergamot
Passion
- Has a spicy, warm, rich aroma
- Provides an invigorating scent during a massage
- Promotes a joyful, inspiring environment
Black Pepper
- Has a hot, sharp, fruity, spicy aroma
- Adds a spicy, enhanced flavor to water and recipes
- Provides a warm, soothing sensation to skin through massage when combined with a carrier oil
Ylang Ylang
- Has a sweet, uplifting, calming aroma
- Promotes a calming, positive atmosphere.
- Nourishes for softer looking hair and skin
Jasmine Touch
- Has a sweet, pleasing, romantic aroma
- Soothes and moisturizes dry skin
- Provide a pleasant, relaxing aroma during a massage
Cinnamon Bark
- Provides a sweet, warm, comforting aroma
- Provides a warming sensation to skin when combined with a carrier oil
- Freshens breath
Peppermint
- Has a refreshing, stimulating, energizing aroma
- Provides a cooling, refreshing sensation
- Gentle on sensitive skin
Ginger
- Has a soothing, warm, energizing aroma
- Provides a warming sensation to skin
- Adds a spicy taste to water, teas, and recipes
Essential Oils for Beginners
Are you new to essential oils? I’d suggest checking out my Essential Oils for Beginners post. You can learn all the basics about getting started with essential oils.
Summary
9 Essential oils for love and intimacy include:
- Cinnamon
- Black pepper
- Ginger
- Jasmine
- Ylang ylang
- Peppermint
- Bergamot
- Sandalwood
- Passion
I’ve shared with you some of my favorite essential oils for love and intimacy – however, it’s not an exhaustive list! Feel free to experiment, and choose the essential oils that you resonate with.
Free Printable Aphrodisiac Recipe Sheet
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