Recently I attended a screening of The Reader (thanks, S.; everyone else: go see it!) and, perhaps because of its very sensual bathing scenes, I was inspired to suggest a sensual bath as an MSP Holiday Gift Idea. And why not? If you have what you need at home to make it special (e.g., private time together, warm water, bath salts or bubble bath), then it’s a go. Bonus if you have candles, wine or another beverage of your choice.
There are many possible joys in taking baths together: the creation of a special, private place together, of solitude; the way that it feels to touch another person’s body through the lens of a smooth bath soap or lotion; warm water that soothes each other’s muscles and/or candle light that sets a mood of warmth and relaxation (sex therapists/researchers are well aware, as I’m sure you are too, of the important role that relaxation plays in enhancing arousal, desire and ease of orgasm); a chance to talk and re-connect in ways that sitting in front of the television together may not offer.
And so, why not make a sensual bath a holiday gift? Perhaps particularly if money is tight and the gift budget is smaller than you’d like. Even if you don’t bathe together, perhaps drawing your partner a bath with the promise that you will take care of the cooking/kids/cleaning while she or he bathes, in solitude, would be appealing?
This holiday gift idea was further inspired when I got a secret email from Origins (one of my favorite shops, for many years) saying that from December 19 through December 24, you can get 25% off all products in their stores. That is a HUGE savings. They had a similar sale last week and I stocked up on my favorites and will probably head back to get a few things I should have stocked up on more of (things I use regularly, like face lotion).
Origins has many good sensually themed products, as many of them make a person’s skin feel unusually soft and smooth. Plus the scents are, in my opinion, unusually good. Their Modern Friction for the Body is VERY smoothing – if you see The Reader, you might attempt giving your partner a similar stand-up bath by rubbing some Modern Friction on their back (where pores often get clogged) and note the difference. The sensual touch would come after (as Modern Friction itself is more abrasive/exfoliating).
To stick with a smooth themed all along, try using Never a Dull Moment on your partner’s breasts or chest, or their face (if they’ll let you) – it is one of my favorite products both in terms of scent and feel.
If you enjoy washing each other’s hair, I like their Mint Shampoo and their Knot Free conditioning rinse (even in college I would spring for this, use it sparingly so as to conserve money, and bask in its scent).
Lastly, I’ve never tried the Shedonism bubble bath but it is supposed to be lovely. And remember, everything at Origins stores (not their web site, unfortunately) is 25% off through December 24… which is why I will definitely be heading back to stock up on my favorites.
Of course, any bath line will do – I just mentioned Origins because I love their stuff and who doesn’t enjoy a sale? But I’d love to hear from MSP readers – do you enjoy bath time with a partner? Do you even LIKE baths (I had a guy friend in college who hated baths – he was grossed out by the idea of “people sitting in their own dirt”). I don’t think of baths like that, though; I have enjoyed them ever since I was a little kid with my numerous bath toys. So for those of you who DO like baths, alone or with a partner, what do you do to make bath time special? Do you use waterproof sex toys? Do you use bath salts? Is there a favorite product you enjoy? Do you wash each other, sit and talk, sip tea, wine or beer? Let us know. Real names are not required.
