Essential oils are a concentrated oil derived from a plant that also contains a distinctive, desirable scent or essence for which that oil is named, such as lavender oil as an example. These oils can be used for a variety of purposes, but one of the most popular uses is for aromatherapy – a form of alternative medicine used to improve mood, health, and for other purposes. Some essential oils, listed below, also have aphrodisiac effects.
1. Rose Oil
One of the best known essential oils with aphrodisiac properties, rose oil has long been used to treat low sex drive in women and to ease post-menopausal complaints. The oil is also used to help those with mild depression and stress. The scent is considered by many to be very romantic.
2. Ylang Ylang Oil
Originally used in Indonesia and the South Pacific, ylang ylang is currently gaining popularity for treating menstrual discomfort, relieving high blood-pressure, and improving sexual function and increasing desire. These aphrodisiac properties are balanced with the other benefits of ylang ylang, including anxiety reduction and stress relief.
3. Lemon Balm Oil
Also known as Melissa Oil, lemon balm is used to treat many minor illness and conditions, including menstrual discomfort and mild depression, in addition to insomnia and stress. This has led to lemon balm being used as an aromatherapy oil and aphrodisiac. Its native qualities help restore balance to the body, creating a mood that is conducive to romantic encounters.
4. Nutmeg Oil
Essential oils made from the spice nutmeg can be used as an aphrodisiac due to its propensity for relieving muscle aches, fatigue, and poor circulation, all of which contribute to a lower sex drive when left untreated. Overuse should be avoided even in aromatherapy due to the potency of nutmeg as a mood altering substance.
5. Vetiver Oil
Vetiver is another oil with uses that enhance the sexual experience. The oil has long been used in Southeast Asia to relieve exhaustion, depression, muscular pain, and stress, enhancing overall mood and sense of well-being. The oil improves significantly with aging in terms of both aroma and efficacy.
6. Ginger Oil
This essential oil acts primarily on the circulatory system, improving blood flow to assist with the arousal process, as many traditional aphrodisiacs do. Long used in traditional medicine, ginger also helps to improve mood, increase energy levels, and relieve muscle aches, in part due to the circulation effects.
7.Lavender Oil
The scent of lavender has long been associated with the feminine and with home. The aroma of lavender can tap the male emotional center, bringing about a state of tranquility or arousal, depending on context. The oil has traditionally been used to improve mood and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety for both sexes. It is a widely used oil with many benefits.
8. Clove Oil
Essential oils derived from cloves is one of the most widely sold across the globe with an estimated 2,000 tonnes produced annually worldwide. The oil has a long history of medicinal uses; however, according to Chinese medicine, clove oil is useful in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, including impotence and feminine dryness. In healthy individuals, the same oil can be used as an aphrodisiac in aromatherapy and as a massage oil.
9. Neroli Oil (bitter orange)
Neroli is an extract from the flowers of the bitter orange plant. This essential oil is used in aromatherapy to treat many conditions, among them depression and frigidity (female sexual dysfunction), leading to its current popularity as an aphrodisiac. Neroli oil increases positive mood and circulation, both important components of sexual arousal.
10. Cumin Oil
Cumin oil comes from the popular Indian and Mediterranean spice, distilled into an essential oil. The spice has long been used to improve circulation, treat high blood-pressure, and increase desire in both men and women. Additionally, cumin is popularly used to treat toxic build up in the bodily systems, protecting the overall health of the user.