With its Valentine's Day anchor, February truly is the "month
of love." And what better way to celebrate than to get
all your senses in on the action? The following are suggestions
for getting the most out of romance, one sense at a time.
Sight
Lighting should be one of the first areas you look at
when trying to establish a romantic mood. Candlelight
is perfect for romantic ambiance, as is the light from
a fireplace. You could also try warm, soft light bulbs,
preferably of a low-wattage or pleasing color.
Speaking of color, give some thought to it when arranging
a romantic setting. Reds will tend to inspire feelings
of passion, energy and conversation, while blues will
encourage trust and relaxation, as well as helping to
sooth nerves. Try violet, a combination of the two, for
a great comforting effect. Colors to avoid include yellows
and oranges.
Flower will also be not only be pleasing visually, but
will also appeal to one's sense of…
Smell
The sense of smell is one of the most powerful things
you can target when it comes to striking a romantic mood.
Scents travel directly to the brain and can trigger a
wide range of emotions. Some of the scents that can help
romantically include vanilla, lavender, jasmine, mandarin,
rose and sandalwood. You could also try to cook foods
that please and provoke positive emotions, such as cinnamon
rolls. One of the primary considerations here is to take
into account what you and your partner like.
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Taste
You've probably heard the phrase "the way to a man's heart
is through his stomach," but this isn't limited to men.
Cultures throughout history have believed that aphrodisiacs
existed that could help enhance "romance," and science
is now backing them up on it. Take, for example, chocolate.
Chocolate actually triggers the release of chemicals in the
brain that create feelings of pleasure and gratification.
One sure-fire romantic combination is to break out the champagne,
strawberries, chocolate and whipped cream. Other aphrodisiacs
that you can try include asparagus, artichokes, caviar, figs,
ginger, grapes, honey and the old standby, raw oysters.
Sound
Classical or ambient music are the obvious choices when it
comes to striking an audio romantic mood, but you can really
listen to anything that you find enjoyable and relaxing (the
best choices typically are those types of music with melodic
and slow tempos). The idea is to create a sound "envelope"
you can slip into, a world of two removed from the larger one
outside. A couple of tips on how you can further achieve this
goal: avoid the television (ooo, a car chase… give me a
kiss), and try to block out outside noise with thick curtains.
Touch
Which brings us to the touchie-feelie sense. There are a number
of things you can focus on in this area to enhance romance.
First, think fabrics. Items made from silk (sheets), satin,
velvet, cashmere, mohair and angora will all add to a feeling
of pleasure and relaxation. Try mixing up your normal setting
by cluttering it with plush pillows, throws and other comfortable
accessories. Set up a thick rug next to the fire, load it with
pillows, add champagne and chocolate… you get the idea.
Finally, try a gentle massage. This is a perfect way to both
relax and re-energize a partner. It also is a great way to get
close. Try massaging the head, hands and feet with flowing and
rhythmical motions. For an added benefit, use a scented massage
oil.
Stimulating all five of the senses will help to make your romantic
evenings both more pleasurable and more special. Try mixing
and matching any of the above ideas, and don't be afraid to
experiment with your own if you feel that they will enhance
the mood. Personal preferences and likes are really the only
rules when it comes to romance.
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