The Sexy Side of Essential Oils - Botanical Tools for Enhancing Your Sex Life!
A true essential oil is the lifeblood of the plant.
An essential oil contains the unique properties of the plant and transfers them to the human body via living, bioavailable chemical constituents that carry concentrated information inherent in that plant’s make up.
This information speaks to our DNA, nourishes our cells, and informs our bodies in very special and supportive ways.
I’m going to talk about two of the delivery methods with which you can use essential oils to help things along when it comes to your libido, hormones, and sexual experience.
One requires you to get yourself a diffuser, for the aromatic benefits of essential oils. This method disperses them into the air to be inhaled, thus impacting your mood in a fascinating way.
Diffused essential oils have the ability to bypass your “thinking brain” (frontal cortex) in order to impact your “feeling/emotional brain” (limbic brain). This part of your brain is responsible for emotions such as happiness, peace, sadness and love, as well as impulses like sexual desire.
Inhaling essential oils also stimulates the amygdala, which is the centre for our sexual drive, and some oils even have molecules so tiny that they can cross the blood-brain barrier and support healthy oxygen levels around the pineal gland which is associated with hormonal regulation.
So as you can see, there is a pretty good argument for whacking a diffuser in the bedroom and enjoying the benefits it can bring to your nocturnal activities.
The other method is topical, since we absorb essential oils so readily through out skin and in this way can soak up their amazing benefits whilst smelling all kinds of delish!
( And while we’re on the topic of delish self care practices, you might be interested in an episode of my podcast, The Labia Lounge, that I did on Bringing Ritual Into The Everyday )
So without further ado, I’m going to introduce you to a few of the stars in the bedroom and some suggestions about how you can use them to optimise your sex life!
Ylang Ylang:
In Indonesia, the petals of this flower are scattered over the bed of newlywed couples on their wedding night. This is a famous aphrodisiac. It increases libido and sexual energy, and harmonises and balances masculine and feminine energies. Ylang Ylang has a calming effect that can help you relax - which in turn increases your ability to feel pleasure and open into orgasmic states because, as you may know, relaxation and a calm nervous system is essential to female arousal processes.
Pop a few drops in the diffuser, or dilute it with a carrier oil (perhaps some jojoba, sweet almond, or coconut oil) to apply to your inner thighs before heading to bed.
Cypress:
Cypress is a game-changer because of it’s ability to stimulate blood flow and circulation. Consider for a moment that women have just as much erectile tissue as men do in their genitals, and that all of this tissue needs to become engorged with blood through the process of arousal to allow for epic orgasmic pleasure.
Does increased blood flow and circulation take on a whole new meaning for you now? It’s important stuff, and Cypress essential oil, diluted and rubbed on your inner thighs will be a winning stroke. Likewise for blood flow to the yoni’s counterpart.
Slather up his inner thighs as well; this oil doesn’t discriminate!
Nutmeg:
Nutmeg is a powerful vasodilator too, which means it opens the blood vessels and makes them bigger allowing more blood to flow through them. Remember why we like increased blood flow and circulation? Yep.
It’s also energising, and stimulates both physical and sexual energy so it’s great for stamina. Nutmeg is effective for every gender, but needs to be diluted a LOT as it is very potent. This goes for when you’re diffusing it or applying it to those inner thighs!
Clary Sage:
This oil is fabulous for PMS and helps balance hormones, being especially useful around your moon time.
The libido boosting benefits of this one are due to it’s phytoestrogens which are plant compounds that act like oestrogen in the body in a healthy, safe way. Since we naturally feel more “in the mood” when we are ovulating and oestrogen levels are at their highest, the phytoestrogens in Clary Sage can increase libido and natural lubrication.
Diffuse it, and include it in any oil blends that you use topically on the body - especially inner thighs and below the navel, for optimal proximity!
And if you’re looking for some info on libido - Check out this podcast about female libido!
Orange:
Orange is a fun and bright essential oil that lifts the mood, puts some zing in your bing, and energises the spirit. Orange essential oil is said to open the sacral chakra near the pelvic area which is associated with pleasure, creativity, and sensuality. It’s aphrodisiac properties help de-stress and embrace sexual expressiveness and fun.
Plus it smells zesty and delicious whether diffused or used topically in a base oil.
So those are some top picks to start incorporating into your sexy routine, all of which are quite common, affordable, and easy to acquire as far as essential oils go.
I needn’t remind you that it is essential (ha, see what I did there?) to ensure you only use the highest quality, food grade oils - especially when straying so close to your more delicate zones!
And when in doubt, check out my Guide to Holistic Yoni Care to get a checklist of things that’ll keep your vagina happy and healthy!
Here’s a little recipe for you to try at home:
(And if you want to try out my homemade, organic Motion Lotion - a natural lube and massage butter - my Menstrual Magic Magnesium Spray, or my breast massage oil feel free to get in touch as I make them in small batches, and can tailor an order to suit your needs.)
A Mood Enhancing Diffuser Blend
(for you to use in the bedroom):
3 drops of Jasmine
3 drops of Orange
2 drops of Ylang Ylang
1 drop Clary Sage