Licensed to thrill?

Mention James Bond and a few things come to mind. Sports cars, definitely. Cool gadgets, most likely. Seduction, of course. Bond never fails to get the girl (or girls), so he must be doing something right.

Luckily, you don’t need to be an MI6 intelligence officer to enjoy a bit of seduction. With a little help from us, your semi-detached in Bracknell can be transformed into the Las Vegas Hilton as you turn down the lights and enjoy a bit of double oh, oh, oohhh…

Room fragrance

Hide the telltale smell of last night’s Indian takeaway by liberally spraying a room fragrance around. ARK Skincare Loving Room Spray contains rose, jasmine and orange flower oils and as well as making your home smell wonderful, jasmine is thought by some to be an aromatic aphrodisiac.

Bathe

It is a truth universally acknowledged that baths are the perfect way to relax, unwind and prepare yourself for saucier activities. Makes sense really – a two minute, tepid power shower gets you woken up and ready for the day; an hour’s soak with oils and candles gets you feeling good. NB: if your bath includes anyone else it may be worth skipping the less glamorous elements of grooming, you know, the leg shaving, moustache bleaching, bikini-line waxing etc. You could include however, a glass of wine and a copy of 50 Shades. (If seduction is the last thing on your mind, give yourself a laugh instead by reading out passages in regional accents – Bristolian is pretty funny).

Ambience 

To me, fluorescent strip lights are reminiscent of pub kitchens and, to make matters worse are seriously unflattering. Hide a multitude of sins with subtle candlelight (being careful not to set the house alight). We have a range of gorgeously scented candles that will enable you to create a seductive ambience. My favourite is the Neom Sensuous Candle, which is made of a blend of ylang ylang, frankincense and patchouli.

Music

Don’t overlook the power of aural stimulation to turn a situation from routine to romantic, and forget Lionel Richie, misogynistic rap or anything by a current or former boy band member. There is nothing better than some classical music to get things moving in the right direction; my favourites are Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers or Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

Massage

A massage is a surefire way to heat up a close encounter, and a diploma in massage therapy is not necessary to reap the benefits of some skin on skin action. Chose massage oils that include rose and patchouli, and apply sparingly unless you want any fabric in the surrounding area to look like you dropped takeaway on it. If you really don’t know what you are doing, there are plenty of guides on the internet. As with most things on this subject, you don’t need a partner. If it’s all about spending some quality time with yourself, try self-massage techniques to relax, using conditioning body oils for extra luxury.

However, if you have no time, energy or inclination for romance, just treat yourself to a nice hot bath, a glass of wine and a copy of How to Be a Woman. After all, according to a BBC article, Bond displays psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism. Oh, and probably has an STI…