Essential Oils
Please keep in mind that all these oils have many attributes, and this is by no means a complete list of essential oils. I’ve picked these oils for their relaxing, sensual, or refreshing qualities. An asterisk after an entry means that that particular essential oil is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
In general, it is a good idea to always consult with an herbalist, doctor, midwife, aromatherapist, or another healthcare practitioner before using any essential oil medicinally. There will be a more complete list of oils to avoid after this entry.
Essential oils that are underlined are particularly known for their sensual attributes. If you notice, most of the “aphrodisiac” essential oils have euphoric and calming effects. This makes sense, as a calm and content state of mind is essential for a good sensual encounter. Combine these erotic oils with those promoting muscle relaxation, and you have a massage partner that is calm, relaxed, and ready for more action.
– Bergamot – Citrus bergamia – This oil has the aroma of bergamot orange that is slightly floral. A very refreshing scent. It is also known as Oswego tea and bee balm. This oil is good for depression, tension, and stress.
– Bois-de-Rose – Aniba rosaeodora – A sweet, floral, woody scent that relieves stress, headache, and depression.
– Cedarwood* – Cedrus atlantica – You will find this scent that is dry, woody, and sweet. It soothes and calms. Great for arthritis and stress.
– Chamomile* – Matricana chamomilla – This oil has a fruity, herbal essence with a myriad of uses. Not only is it great for your hair, it is also wonderful for insomnia, anxiety, neuralgia, burns, pain of rheumatism, gout, sores, sprains, inflamed skin, strains, stress, and nerves, and gives a sense of peace and calm.
– Cinnamon* – Cinnamonum zelanicum – I’m sure everyone has smelled the comforting aroma of cinnamon in apple pie, but I bet you didn’t know it is a wonderful essential oil for exhaustion, stress, and rheumatism. Cinnamon may be a mucus membrane irritant, as are the other spices, so keep that in mind when making oils intended for erotic massage. You might want to use just a small amount in your blend.
– Citronella* – Cymbopogon nardus – This oil has a lovely citrus odor. I’m sure everyone is familiar with its insect-repellent attributes, but it’s also a great tonic for headache and fatigue.
– Clary Sage* – Salvia sclarea – This oil with a nutty fragrance helps fortify a debilitated nervous system. It is also euphoric and has sensual properties. Some sources cite clary sage as being a uterine stimulant, so this must be kept in mind in the case of pregnancy.
– Clove* – Eugenia caryophyllata – Clove is a wonderful analgesic; just ask anyone who’s used it for a toothache. It also has antiseptic properties and is excellent for arthritis pains, as well as sprains and strains. This oil may cause mucus membranes irritation, so again, be wary. In my own personal use of this essential oil, I’ve not found it to be irritating to mucous membranes, but everyone is different and perceives sensations differently.
– Cypress – Cupressus sempervirens – A woody aroma that helps with mental and emotional resolve, as well as rheumatism and varicose veins.
– Frankincense – Boswellia thurifera – This gift from the magi has a heady, spicy aroma. It encourages feelings of peace and wellbeing, calms, deepens breathing, and eases nerves and tension. I like to use this oil or the resin itself when my children are fearful of boogey men and monsters. When I burn frankincense, I can feel it in my spine. The aroma evokes feelings of safety, and may even chase away evil spirits!
– Geranium* – Pelargonium graveolens – An essential oil with a floral scent. It’s good for depression and nerves; helps to relax. It also benefits the nervous system and women who suffer from PMS.
– Ginger – Zingiber officinale – Ginger has a spicy aroma that calms and soothes me. My midwife uses ginger in boiling water during births to soothe the laboring mother. She also uses the ginger water to relax the skin. Ginger improves circulation; it’s great for cold hands and feet, so try it in a tub or footbath. It helps with muscle aches and pains, as well as arthritis.
– Grapefruit – Citrus paradisi – This oil, with an obvious citrus aroma, is used for depression and migraine, and as a tonic aid in drug withdrawal. It is a good choice if you’re looking for a refreshing scent.
– Hops – Humulus lupulus – Hops is the ingredient in beer that acts as a sedative. Marijuana, which also causes sedation, is a relative of hops. Hops is an analgesic and helps neuralgia, nervous tension, bruising, and insomnia. It’s also a skin softener.
– Jasmine – Jasminum officinale – This oil has an erotic floral scent. This night-blooming flower eases anxiety and lethargy while relaxing and calming.
– Juniper* – Juniperus communis – With an earthy, woody scent, juniper clears the emotions and relaxes. It’s also good for cellulitis and rheumatism.
– Lavender – Lavendula Augusti from – This oil has a warm floral aroma. It is a relaxant, easing nervous tension, headaches, neuralgia, and muscle aches and pains from rheumatism, and gives a sense of tranquility. It also works wonders on burns, though I do not recommend using the undiluted oil on damaged skin, and before using any oil medicinally, it’s a good idea to check with an aromatherapist, herbalist, midwife, or naturopath.
– Lemon – Citrus limonum – A lemony aroma, of course, that refreshes and cools. It’s great for nerves, varicose veins, and high blood pressure. Anyone who has had a tall glass of ice water with a twist of lemon on a hot summer’s day or while feverish can attest to the cooling, soothing qualities of lemon.
– Lemongrass – Cymbopogon citratus – Citrus. Wonderful for muscle aches, headaches, and stress.
– Lime – Citrus aurantifolia – Another oil with a sweet citrus odor. Great for high blood pressure, rheumatism, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and varicose veins. It revitalizes, too.
– Mandarin – Citrus nobilis – An oil with a fruity citrus essence that relieves stress and nervousness, as well as eases insomnia with its tranquilizing effects.
– Marjoram* – Origanum majorana – This essential oil has a spicy, woody aroma that is helpful with bruises, PMS, anxiety, insomnia, muscle aches, circulation, neuralgia, rheumatism, sprains, and strains.
– Melissa – Melissa officinalis – Also known as lemon balm, it calms nerves and lifts spirits. Its sedative effect helps with depression and insomnia. It’s also good for eczema.
– Myrrh* – Commiphora myrrha – This aroma is woody and earthy, and has wonderful calming effects. It is also used as gargles and mouth rinses for those suffering from gingival problems, but this should be done only under the direction of any herbalist, and the oil never applied directly to the mucus membranes.
– Neroli – Citrus bigaradia – This oil has the essence of a bitter orange. It eases depression, anxiety, and hysteria, as well as nervous tension. It promotes peace and encourages sleep, but is also known for its seductive qualities.
– Nutmeg* – Myristica fragrans – This woody, spicy oil works wonders for arthritis, aching muscles, neuralgia, rheumatism, and poor circulation.
– Orange – Citrus aurantium – Bitter orange, with its citrus aroma, is good for depression, anxiety, stress, dull skin, and muscle spasms.
– Palmarosa – Cymbopogon martini – This refreshing, floral aroma helps with exhaustion, skin infections, and dull skin.
– Patchouli – Pogostemon patchouli – With its musky odor, it lends itself as a sensual essential oil. It is also useful for skin inflammation, fatigue, mature skin, stress, and hair care.
– Peppermint – Mentha piperita – A cooling, refreshing minty aroma is the characteristic of this oil. It is also known for its benefits for inflammation, and migraine, and where it is applied it has an anesthetic effect that increases blood flow. Like the other mints, though, it may cause mucus membrane irritation.
– Rose – Rosa gallica officinalis – A light floral aroma helps to ease tension, depression, and anxiety. It is a “love oil” that is also an excellent tonic for the reproductive organs. Rose also aids in the treatment of eczema and mature skin.
– Rosemary* – Rosmarinus officinalis – This oil has an herbal, woody aroma. It, too, is a “love oil”, but also helps with headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, sprains, nerves, and rheumatism. This is one of the best oils for your hair.
– Rosewood – Aniba Rosaeodora – This floral scent promotes comfort and eases depression. It relaxes sore muscles. It is also known as lemongrass.
– Sandalwood – Santalum album – This wood-scented oil is known as a sexual stimulant. It helps the user to focus on the here and now, enjoying the moment rather than worrying about what could have been; enabling the user to fully enjoy his or her present situation and partner. It is also a sedative that helps with depression and PMS.
– Thyme* – Thymus vulgaris (as well as T. serpyllum and T. pulegioides) – This plant possesses a fresh, herbal aroma. It strengthens nerves, eases exhaustion and rheumatic pains, and soothes muscle aches and arthritis. – Ylang-ylang – Canagna data – This oil has an exotic, floral odor that eases stress, anxiety, and high blood pressure. It’s a general tonic that is also well known for its sensual properties.
Base oils
– Sweet Almond – This oil can be used 100%. This is my favorite oil to use as a base. It’s light in texture and color, and has the added benefit of helping with itching, dryness, soreness, and inflammation.
– Apricot Kernel – This oil, too, can be used undiluted. It’s good for sensitive skin and dry skin.
– Avocado – This oil should be used at only 10% (90% should be another oil, such as sweet almond). This base oil is rather heavy and leaves a waxy feel on the skin.
– Avocado Pear – Again, though this oil is good for dry skin, it should be used at 10% and mixed with another base oil.
– Borage Seed – Another 10% oil that should be mixed. It’s good for premature aging, stimulation and regeneration of skin, multiple sclerosis, menopause, heart disease, and eczema.
– Cocoa Butter – This needs to be warmed, as it is solid at room temperature, but it is excellent for dry skin.
– Corn Oil – This oil can be used 100% and is good for all skin types. It’s rather heavy, but also soothing.
– Hazelnut – This oil can be used undiluted and on all skin types. It is also an astringent.
– Jojoba – This base should be diluted to 10%. It’s a wonderful help in psoriasis, acne, and inflamed skin, but can be used on all skin types. It’s also good for the hair.
– Peanut Oil – Edgar Casey sang the wonders of this oil. He recommended it for all types of ailments. Peanut oil can be used undiluted and on all skin types, but be aware that it has a very strong aroma of peanuts and can feel quite heavy on the skin.
– Safflower – This can be used undiluted and for all skin types.
– Sesame Oil – This should be diluted to 10%, but is wonderful on all skin types. It is especially useful for psoriasis, eczema, and arthritis. It also has a strong aroma, though, so smell it before trying it. – Soya Bean – Another oil that can be used undiluted and on all skin types. – Sunflower oil – Again, another oil that can be used undiluted and on all skin types.
– Wheat germ – While good for psoriasis, prematurely aging skin, and eczema, as well as all skin types, it should be used at 10%.
Remember, use only 5 to 6 drops of essential oil per 10 mL of base oil. This is the total amount. You can combine oils, of course, but in total your essential oils should not exceed the 5 to 6 drops mentioned above.