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Valentine's Day | Posted 10 Feb 2015

The most romantic day of year is almost upon us, and love is very literally in the air this Valentine’s Day at Leonardo Hotels in the UK. In the spirit of the season, we’re introducing a unique incentive to get couples canoodling across the country - the world’s first aphrodisiac pillows! Our loved-up guests will be given the option to have their pillow sprayed with a custom-made potion of powerful aphrodisiacs, believed to have an enticing effect on the opposite sex.

The alluring be-spoke scent ‘Pillow Talk’, with notes of Jasmine, Black Pepper, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood, is the work of Craft Perfumer Sarah McCartney at 4160 Tuesdays who has carefully selected ingredients to encourage Cupid’s arrow to strike.

Pillow Talk

‘There’s a long tradition of using perfume to seduce, from Cleopatra and her rose petals to modern day traditions of spreading Ylang Ylang petals over the marriage bed. We’ve used Jasmine as it’s got a great reputation as an aphrodisiac by helping calm the mind, relax the body and enhance alertness. As someone who works with it in the pure form, I’d have to say I agree. Although not an obvious mood-setter, Black Pepper is another scent known to stimulate senses, relieve muscles and improve flexibility. Ylang Ylang is said to sooth anxiety and Sandalwood, a sensual fragrance used in seductive scents for thousands of years, encourages relaxation’.

Here comes the science. Fragrance guru Lisa Hipgrave, Director of the International Fragrance Association Fragrances UK, explains there’s a complex psychology at work that suggests our sense of smell plays an important role when seeking out a potential partner,

‘Fragrances are known to have an alluring effect with many people using perfumes to create the right mood when they go on a date. Research also suggests that we naturally use scent in certain settings, literally sniffing out the partner who will be right for us, suggesting that our noses will help make some very important choices in our lives’.

So, now for the all-important question, does it work? ‘Although we can’t guarantee these scents will make someone fall ‘in love’ with you’, says Sarah, ‘We do know that if you smell and feel great, then there’s a good chance of creating a spark with a special someone this Valentine’s Day’.

The aphrodisiac pillows will be available on request at all Leonardo hotels across the UK from 14th – 15th of February 2015. Customers are asked to request in advance by contacting the Leonardo hotels they are staying in to have their pillows sprayed.

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