Beauty & Fashion
Being feminine (insert Eric Benet’s song “Femininity” right here). It is something that I absolutely adore about womanhood. There is just something that is so beautiful, so soft and so necessary about feminine energy and what it brings into just about any space that will forever be unmatched.
And that’s why I adore quotes on the topic like, “Beauty and femininity are ageless and can't be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won't like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it's based on femininity” (Marilyn Munroe), “Kindness is the secret to true femininity” (Carole Landis) and “Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength” (James E. Faust).
That last one? It sounds a lot like Scripture: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (I Peter 3:3-4 — NKJV) If you’re paying close attention to all of the words in these verses, “merely” implies that, while it is cool to invest in your appearance, true femininity is also about investing in your character. And y’all, in a culture that tries to undermine what having a gentle and quiet spirit is all about — to me, more than anything, it’s about being at peace with oneself, knowing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and allowing that to translate into every aspect of your life with grace, confidence and even elegance…as a woman.
One way to amplify this kind of feminine energy is to pay close attention to the scents that you wear; especially since, even science states, that they can actually influence how feminine (or not) you appear to be.
Keeping all of this in mind, are you ready to learn about how certain essential oils can bring out your natural femininity in ways you probably never believed that they could? Below, I have included eight of ‘em.
1. Manuka
Something that I like about manuka oil is it has hints of spice and honey which makes it sweet-smelling without being floral (if floral isn’t your thing). Beyond how it smells, what makes manuka oil so delightful when it comes to amplifying femininity is it contains properties that help to soften the appearance of scars, it reduces scalp inflammation (so that your hair can flourish) and it also can serve as an alternative to store brand deodorant.
2. Ylang-Ylang
The interesting thing about ylang-ylang is it kind of smells like a mixture of flowers, jasmine and even bananas (I know, right)? And since the combination of all of these scents is so alluring, maybe that’s why ylang-ylang is considered to be an aphrodisiac. In fact, some studies even say that it can help to boost your self-esteem (including your sexual self-confidence). Other ways that ylang-ylang can bring out the most in your femininity is it can help to reduce anxiety and depression-related symptoms so that you feel calmer and more relaxed. And, if you tend to struggle with menstrual discomfort, ylang-ylang has been known to serve as an all-natural pain reducer too.
3. Agarwood
If you’d prefer an essential oil that has more of a woodsy and earthy scent (with a touch of vanilla and musk), that is what agarwood can provide. If you’ve never heard of it before, this means that I’ve done my job because I wanted to include a few essential oils that don’t get as much attention as they deserve. Anyway, if you’re someone who likes to get into touch with your femininity via meditation, agarwood has a great reputation for soothing your senses. It’s also another oil that is great for treating PMS and menstrual-related symptoms, fighting breast cancer cells and improving the health of your skin, so that your natural beauty is able to shine through. Another bonus: If you’re post-menopausal and you’re dealing with brain fog because of it, agarwood has been known to improve one’s memory as well.
4. Rose
Since red roses symbolize things like passion and desire, pink roses represent femininity and peach roses are all about gratitude — there is no way that I could pen an article like this and not have rose essential oil on the list. I’m pretty sure you know what a rose smells like, so let’s get into what it can do for you beyond making you smell amazing. Believe it or not, rose oil is great at treating menstrual discomfort. It’s also an oil that calms your senses. However, perhaps my favorite thing about this particular oil is that it not only increases sexual desire but can make it easier for you to experience intense pleasure during copulation too.
5. Magnolia
Magnolia essential oil has a layered type of scent. It’s kind of citrusy while also being kind of floral. It gives off a creamy vibe while also seeming sweet and musky. To me, if I were to give one word for it, it would probably be that it is pretty “potent.” Anyway, I chose to put it on the feminine energy list because, on the beauty tip, it has a reputation for helping to fade acne marks. Emotionally, it’s good at reducing anxiety and stress. If you are looking to soothe symptoms that are related to perimenopause, magnolia is also awesome in that department; plus, it’s an essential oil that can support you in getting some quality rest (and we’re all at our best when we are well-rested, chile).
6. Elemi
Something that is kind of citrusy with undertones of frankincense would be elemi essential oil. This is another not-super-popular oil that is worth putting on your radar because, if you’re looking to deeply hydrate your skin or reverse its signs of aging, elemi can definitely help you out. That’s because it contains properties that help to soften fine lines and wrinkles as well as boost elasticity within your skin. Also, if you wish to tap deeper into the spiritual side of your femininity, elemi can help to promote stillness, clarity, compassion and peace while also supporting you in focusing on what will help you to further elevate in your purpose.
7. Palmarosa
The interesting thing about how palmarosa smells is it’s oftentimes compared to a mixture of rose and geranium scents. Beauty-wise, it’s another oil that helps to pamper your skin. Beyond that, if you’re stressed out at work or you need to get into a better mood, by dabbing some palmarosa oil on your pressure points (like your wrists), that can help to amplify your feminine energy and positive vibes. By the way, if you’re looking to get more quality beauty sleep, a few drops of this oil in your diffuser and you will absolutely wake up feeling refreshed.
8. Geranium
If you like how a rose smells but you wish it had a bit of a citrus kick to it, that is just what geranium essential oil will provide for you. Your skin will adore it because it helps to soothe the symptoms that are associated with breakouts. If you are going through perimenopause, your system will appreciate it because it can help to stimulate the production of estrogen. If you want a way to relax, relate and release, geranium oil can make that happen. It can also increase blood circulation throughout your body, so that your orgasms are more intense.
___
Yeah, that’s one of the things that I personally like so much about essential oils: many of them smell divine and yet it never stops there: they can do so much for you on a holistic level too.
So, if you want to experience more of your own femininity, consider trying one of these out.
I can’t think of one single reason or way that you will regret it.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Unsplash
ALSO ON XONECOLE