This February 14th, look to three essential oils that offer support and remedy for the soul as much as the body. Whether you’ve been struck by lightning of the heart, need to promote connection between the mind and body, or want to support a feeling of relaxation, regulation, and reconnection, Pranarōm’s Rose Otto, Australian Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang essential oils can ignite passion, compassion, and emotional optimism.
Long known as aphrodisiacs, each of these essential oils has long historic use in various parts of the world for uplifting, beautifying, balancing, nurturing, and lighting the internal fires of connection and care. The degree of support that these oils offer speaks to the number ways people have used them – so remember that oils for supporting a loving environment extend beyond these three. Now let’s dive into their abilities as aphrodisiacs.
Rose Otto - The Queen of Essential Oils
Rose Otto comes from a beautiful flower that creates a divine essential oil. One of the most popular scents for perfumes and personal scents, it also has the ability to bring about a sense of harmony, emotional balance, emotional uplift, and forgiveness. This is also a flower and scent of decadence due to the dear nature of it, typically requiring 5.5 million roses to make just 1 liter of essential oil. Also a good reminder of why it is best in dilution! 1 drop is often more than sufficient in an ounce of high quality carrier oil – try Pranarōm’s organic Jojoba virgin plant oil.
Roses have been present at wedding ceremonies for centuries due to their connection to love, romance, and fidelity. In fact, some say the first rose essential oil was noticed at an Egyptian wedding where a mote had been dug surrounding the ceremony. The mote was filled with water and rose petals. As the day got warmer attendees noticed a film gathering on the surface of the water. When removed from the water, people noticed the fragrance and it quickly became a popular source for perfuming the body.
Skincare is another great use for Rose Otto. Perfect for imbalanced, reddened, dry or aging skin, it’s a quintessential ingredient in our Rose Regenerative facial oil. The pre-diluted Rose in jojoba roller is a fantastic and more simplistic option that can be rolled on directly to areas of concern, like above the lips and outside the eyes. It doubles as an easy, on-the-go roller for personal scent.
Alternatively, Rose Otto hydrosol can be used in place of the essential oil. Hydrosol is a more gentle and subtle form of aromatherapy that doesn’t require dilution which makes it easy to use, well, anywhere! Use it as a room spray! Aromatize and add extra hydration to your hair! Use it as a facial toner between washing and moisturizing! Spray it over a drawn bath to bring a delightful aromatic into the space. Spray linens and bedding a half hour before getting into bed for a delicate, romantic scent. And so much more.
Australian Sandalwood - Exotic & Sustainable
Next we have Australian Sandalwood, a sustainable alternative to the Indian Sandalwood that is considered a threatened species and should be sourced accordingly. Australian Sandalwood is nearly identical in scent and application, making it a wonderful addition to your essential oil collection.
Considered an emotionally grounding oil, its centering and calming attributes lend to Sandalwood’s use as an aphrodisiac. Additionally, it supports for times of feeling anxious, melancholic, or constricted emotionally. It can also spark creativity, banish negativity, and support during feelings of loneliness! So keep Australian Sandalwood close at hand this Valentine’s Day.
Ylang Yang - Tropical, Floral & Flirty
Let’s not forget Ylang Ylang and its tropical floral scent for your mood-enhancing blend. Commonly and traditionally used for its association with love and promoting well-balanced emotions, it’s a great support for times of despair, grief, and anguish – an emotional buoy, if you will. Early therapeutic studies by French chemists touted it as a deep systemic relaxant, supporting you in so many ways.
Once upon a time, in the 1800s, English men often used hair pomades that were scented with Ylang Ylang. Formulated with coconut oil or palm oil, this pomade not only put these suitors’ prospects to swoon but also prompted the development of chair doilies to protect the upholstery of furniture.
As for its technical function as an aphrodisiac, a simple inhalation of Ylang Ylang seems to have disinhibiting and sensualizing effects on emotions and self-image. This is a result of the olfactory system turning the aromatic molecules you inhale into messages that influence the limbic system of the brain, the part of the brain that regulates emotions, behaviors, and hormones. The very act of inhaling a scent through the nose can affect how you think, feel, and act. This is why aromatherapy can be such a profound and helpful element in your daily care and personal routines.
Remember, this is not an exhaustive list of aphrodisiac essential oils but rather a place to begin as we approach the holiday of love and all the joy it can bring. Aromatherapy offers us many-an-aphrodisiac, from oils that relax to oils that create a sense of optimism and euphoria. Each of these can be used on their own in your unique blending rations. And remember, this is a practice to support rather than influence people, so use responsibly. And have fun!
