“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
~Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Wondering what to give your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day? Try roses for women and patchouli for men.

Roses For Women

Roses not only make a beautiful gift, they are sensual as well. The rose has been used for thousands of years as a female aphrodisiac, in love potions, perfumes, and massage oils. The sedative property of rose oil lowers inhibitions by helping to soothe emotions that block arousal. In aromatherapy, essential rose oil is used by women to alleviate depression, impotence, insomnia, frigidity, menstrual disorders, and headache.

You can make your own aphrodisiac by adding organic rose water in tea or your favorite beverage. (Add a third of a teaspoon rose water, which is rose essential oil diluted with water.) Or try this recipe for tea, using your own organic rose petals.

Rose Petal Tea

This tea stimulates appetite and improves digestion.

1 cup organic rose petals, rinsed
3 cups spring water
brown rice syrup, to taste

1. In a saucepan, bring water to boil.
2. Pour boiling water over rose petals in a teapot.
3. Steep 5 minutes.
4. Pour tea in cups and sweeten with brown rice syrup, to taste.

Patchouli For Men

While women prefer the smell of roses, men are attracted to the scent of an aphrodisiac called patchouli. Found in half of men’s colognes, patchouli has sedative effects like the rose, helping women relax and lower their inhibitions. The widely held belief is that patchouli stimulates the pituitary gland to release endorphins, opiate-like hormones that block pain and promote a feeling of euphoria.

Therapeutically, patchouli helps relieve depression, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, anxiety, and frigidity. (To treat anxiety, apply patchouli externally in small doses, as too much can be a sedative.) As a culinary addition, this herb can be used in many foods, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks.

Whether it be the allure of the rose or the patchouli, natural aphrodisiacs can turn a good date into a spectacular one!