The Scentual Life: Create romance with essential oils

Join me each week as I explore the naturally aromatic side of DIY.
herbs, and other botanicals to soap-making, body care products and other useful blends.

Valentine's Day romance . . . red wine and chocolate, candlelight, a dozen red roses and . . . . cinnamon buns?

According to research done by Dr. Alan Hirsch, cinnamon buns are the most aphrodisiac scent for men. How can you incorporate their scent into your romantic Valentine's evening without baking up a batch?

Use some essential oils. Combining cinnamon essential oils with some of the less spendy ancient aphrodisiac scents makes a great romance enhancer. Scent the room and some body oil and you are on your way to a Valentine's to remember.


Next page: a recipe for romance

---

Use this blend to scent the room:
- 3 drops cinnamon essential oil
- 5 drops vanilla absolute or vanilla infusion
- 5 drops ylang ylang
- 2 drops patchouli

You can use this blend in an aromatherapy diffuser or light bulb scent ring, add a drop or two to a candle's melted wax (not the wick or the flame) or put a drop or two on a tissue and put it in front of your forced hot air heating vent.

Next page: body oils for a memorable, soothing massage