Creating a Romantic Outdoor Atmosphere Using The 5 Senses

This article, by Shabnam Mogharabi, was originally published on Oct 10, 2005 in Pool and Spa News and is reprinted (modified) with permission. It includes editorial content from an exclusive interview with Scott Cohen, President of The Green Scene Landscape Design & Construction in Northridge, CA and PoolDesignIdeas.com.

Rock your world in the privacy of this grotto.

Water cascades over the shoulders of lovers from below or climb onto the waterfall and take a seat. The height of the waterfall is ergonomically designed to promote easy access to oral sex activities.

Years ago I designed pools and spas primarily with children in mind. Nowadays I consider that the kids go off to bed and leave the adults alone every now and again for some adult activity. And of course some clients don’t even have children.  A growing number of couples want to include romantic and sensual themes in their aquascapes.

Create the ultimate outdoor love nest.

“The more of your senses you can incorporate, the greater the experience will be," says Miriam R. Davis, a certified sex therapist in West Palm Beach, FL. Below are five ways to enhance intimacy with your partner by appealing to sight, smell, sound, taste and touch.

SIGHT

Humans rely heavily on visual cues, and the sense of sight is closely tied to sexual desire, particularly in men.

With that in mind, use soft shapes when designing a visually stimulating Garden of Eden. If you think about it, when it comes to freeform pool design, the structures are similar to the female form --some with a larger bust, some with a larger buttocks area. I like to design with the female shape in mind. Sexy swimming pool designs often emulate the female figure.  Inspiration can come from the curve of a hip, the arch in the back, the cup of a breast, etc.  Occasionally, when I am stuck on a design layout, I think about different female body types to get the idea juices flowing again.

"We didn't evolve in an environment of straight lines," says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., an anthropologist at Rutgers University and author of Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love (Henry Holt and Co., 2004).

Nature isn't straight, so make all the lines in the yard curvy. Create bends and turns you wouldn't normally expect. Atmosphere is everything, especially for women. To encourage a great sexual encounter, be sure to set the right ambiance and mood.  The key is to create an atmosphere that the clients consider erotic, sensual and relaxing. (Check out Scott Cohen's mermaid sculpture fountain (right) for more ideas.)

To achieve the right environment, use subtle, soft lighting schemes. These may include LED and low-voltage lighting, or perimeter fiber optics. Dim lighting forces pupils to expand, which also increases arousal.

In low-light conditions, plant white flowers to create a luminous, ethereal look. Color choices in materials are critical as well. Opt for warm shades, such as soft creams and sandy reds, in your decks and paints. Reds, fuchsias and deep oranges are believed to stimulate the production of neurotransmitters linked to sexual arousal.

SMELL

The sense of smell can be a powerful mood-enhancer, especially for women, who have a stronger olfactory ability than men.

"Smell goes directly to the primitive parts of the brain associated with emotion, and it can call up all types of memories," Fisher says.

The simplest way to appeal to the sense of smell is through landscaping. Some plants can increase neurochemicals linked to attraction and arousal.

Sweet-smelling plants such as jasmine, lavender and gardenias are proven "turn-ons." They have the ability to calm and relax both genders, enabling seduction to occur. In fact, researchers at Chicago's Smell and Taste.

Treatment Research Foundation have found that vanilla and lavender are among the scents that can enhance arousal, says Kevin Pezzi, M.D., author of The Science of Sex: Enhancing Sexual Pleasure, Performance, Attraction and Desire (www.ERbook.net).

Steer clear of water lilies and dill, which many scientists believe decrease sexual potency. One of our favorites is “Angel's Trumpet” Brugmansia, which is a large shrub that has voluminous  flowers hanging upside down with a subtle fragrance of baby powder.

Design a small herb garden with crisp mint, rosemary, basil or sage to create a more sensual setting. Some landscapers even use creeping thyme in place of grass. The bright ground cover can drape secluded pathways with a crimson blanket and, when walked upon, emit a subtle scent.

SOUND

From the dawn of our species, moving water has been one of the most soothing sounds to the human ear. Even babies in the womb respond to the natural rhythm of ocean waves.

"Mankind has needed to be near water for millions of years," anthropologist Fisher says. "We're attracted to water, particularly a waterfall. It's exciting and unusual, and constantly changing--and it has noise and motion to it."Excitement drives up dopamine in the brain," she adds, pointing out that in brain scans, love is characterized by elevated levels of the chemical.

Still, men and women often define sensual water sounds in different ways. You have to be careful when you're designing the flow and sound of water-features, it can become a "design for the sexes" issue.

Men usually want more water and Women usually want a gurgling brook, something more soothing and mellow.
Rain curtains and water walls are a gender-neutral option. These features often are reminiscent of distant storms, which many couples equate with intimacy. Combine this sound with the crackling of nearby flames and raw passion is guaranteed.

TASTE

The sense of taste as it pertains to sexuality is often neglected. But don't leave out this important--and pleasurable--aspect of human intimacy. Many people consider the act of feeding small berries and fruits to each other to be highly erotic.When in bloom, access to a grape arbor or raspberry can be a sensual poolside experience on a warm evening.

Plant fruit-bearing foliage such as blackberry or strawberry vines near the most intimate nooks in the yard. Limit yourself to fruits that are easy to eat and delicate in texture.

Don't underestimate the value of fruit trees either. Historically, they are an important part of the mating ritual. In fact, the Chinese believed apricots and peaches to be erotic symbols, while the ancient Greeks considered figs a sexual stimulant because the seeds emulate the ovaries.

Pomegranate plants also may spur primal instincts. Some Bible historians believe Eve's "forbidden fruit" was the pomegranate rather than the much-touted apple. "Anything you can hunt or gather, like grapes or berries, or even an orange tree, not only have a great smell, but you can pick and eat them," Fisher says. "That's exciting. It's all about novelty."

Cohen, for one, designs nearly all his provocative poolscapes with spa-side swim up bars and bar stools, which he says his clients appreciate.

FIRE AND WATER have always been a winning combination. Like Yin and Yang they’re opposing forces that complement each other beautifully. The reflective qualities of water enhance the mystical qualities of fire. They offer a certain mesmerizing effect that I can only describe as primal.” Picture flames dancing across the reflective stillness of a pool, an inviting walkway that leads you across water to a beckoning fireplace beyond, or a wall of water that glistens as it descends and then disappears behind a fiery trough.

Touch is by far the most important sense to couples. The best way to stimulate the skin in a sensual aquascape is with a spa, builders say.

We don't usually come right out and tell a client that our spas are designed for the best sex they'll ever have, but they are. We create some deep-well spas for couples who want to enjoy spending intimate time together and be able to stand up fully in the water.

The spas I build are usually 5 feet deep. It's got a smaller step at the bottom, so a shorter partner can stand comfortably without slipping. In addition we install a set of six jets, including a heated one on the floor.

If you sit your wife in a spa with heated jets on her feet and surround her with chocolate-scented geraniums, you can't go wrong.

On the other hand, Don Goldstone, owner of Ultimate Water Creations in Beverly Hills, CA, has designed what he unabashedly calls a "genital jet." It's an in-seat nozzle created especially for women. The vertical jet produces a smaller stream of water and has a valve to control the flow speed.

Most builders recommend installing a tile finish on the spas. These silky surfaces are gentler and less likely to cause cuts or bruises on exposed skin.  When you are naked in the spa the tile finishes feel best  against your buttocks and they are not abrasive.

To achieve a subtle balance between elements meant to soothe and those that seek to excite. "You want things that are playful so you can play," anthropologist Fisher says. "You want things that are intimate so you have privacy and can relax."

Ready to design and build your own outdoor oasis? Click here to find out more Scott Cohen and how he can help you create the perfect swimming pool of your dreams.