Perfume Power!

Did you know that the perfume you pick can play in your favor? According to Cosmopolitan.com, “research suggests that perfume not only makes you feel more attractive, but it can also act as a carnal catalyst.” Knowing what kind of scent your man likes will help you better harness their power.

“Psychologist and sociologist Joachim Mensing, PhD, identifies six male personality types and their preferred fragrances. Men who are uncomplicated and enterprising tend to go for fresh citrus, zesty, and herbaceous scents. Reflective loner types prefer warm, spicy, mysterious, Oriental notes. The supersocial spontaneous male likes light, cool, and invigorating scents; while a more reserved and sophisticated man is into warm, natural, woody fragrances. The suave metrosexual types gravitate toward colognes with leather and tobacco in them. Likewise, rugged noncomformist guys like leathery scents too, but with a cooler edge.”

"If you wear a fragrance you know he likes, it demonstrates that you're paying attention to his tastes and making an effort to please him," says Christopher Brosius, perfumer and founder of CB Limited in New York City.

So, the next time you’re out shopping with your man, swing by the beauty department and stick some testers under his nose. You’re bound to find the scent that sends him soaring now, and in the future!

Your Personal Peep Show

If you’re looking to spice things up at home, unleash your inner exhibitionist and bring a stripper pole into the bedroom. Your man will love that you’re stepping outside the box and onto his personal “stage” for the ultimate private performance. These are great because they’re removable. You can have a night (or two) of fun, and no one will ever know what goes on behind closed doors!

Cheating to be Expected?

While it’s expected that men and women should have monogamous relationships, the truth is, men may just not be wired to maintain one. Not to offend the feminists out there, but for centuries, man has been the provider – the hunter and gatherer, if you will. One thing men have always hunted is women.

Although men have been tying the knot for years, it’s still in their nature to be attracted to, and “hunt”, new mates. I’m not condoning it by any means, but if you’re wondering why your husband can’t help but turn his head when a pretty woman crosses his path, that’s why. It’s not about you – it’s just in their nature.

“Nature wants one thing, and what it wants are babies,” Jeffrey Kluger, TIME magazine’s science editor, told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira. “It also wants lots of them and it wants variety, because the greater the genetic variety, the greater the likelihood that the babies are going to survive to adulthood and do well. So even when we’ve had children, we have some very primal software that keeps telling us, ‘Look around.’”

Americans are relatively unique in their expectation of lifelong fidelity. “Historically, most cultures are polygynous, meaning men are legally entitled to take multiple wives, and so mating with many women is very common across cultures and perfectly acceptable in many cultures,” said University of Texas psychologist and author David Buss. “Our culture is somewhat unique in that we have presumptive monogamy or legal monogamy — men are only supposed to have one woman.”

Even though it’s within a man’s instinct to breed more, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he will. Reputational damage alone can be enough to keep your man in line. He may notice an attractive woman, but fear not – he may hold lust in his mind, but he’s got love in his heart. It’s the 21st century; men aren’t building fires with rocks any more, so everything they do isn't based on animalistic instincts of the past. Perhaps some of those early instincts remain, but here’s the good news, he’s with you for a reason! So maybe his head turns when an attractive woman walks by (don’t pretend you don’t do the same thing when you do a double take to make sure that wasn’t Brad Pitt that walked by you on your lunch break), but he thinks you’re beautiful, too! Take nature for what it is, but remember all of the things that you love about one another BESIDES looks – why your relationship works and you’re still together!

Sex Does a Body Good!

If you want to do something that will make you not only feel better, but also look better, hit the sack! Keep reading for more info on how sex will improve your life in more ways than one!

• Scientific tests have found that when women make love they produce amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes hair shine and skin smooth.
  
• Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow.
  
• Lovemaking kills calories! It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body. And all this time you thought you couldn’t afford a gym at home!
  
• Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.
  
• Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. It is 10 times more effective than valium. (Although, I think that would depend on who you’re having it with, and how long it lasts!)
  
• Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque buildup.
  
• Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.
  
• Lots of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can help combat asthma and hay fever.

Couples: Private, Political and Public (Oh My!)

Recently, the events surrounding the Spitzer’s downward relationship spiral have launched the topic of political couples to the forefront of media coverage. I couldn’t help but think about the level of importance placed on relationships in the political limelight and how so many people judge a politician’s ability to lead the public by their ability to keep their private lives seemingly warm and fuzzy. Can you imagine the added pressure of keeping your partner happy while (simultaneously) wooing the general public?

There’s a great article on TangoMag.com that breaks down the relationships of each of the previous and current presidential candidates to see how they rank in terms of charisma, stability, chemistry, visibility and synergy. Perhaps the most recognizable home in the world, a couple’s ability to share the White House peacefully amidst public scrutiny is enough to test any relationship.

Side note: How do you think you’d be perceived in the public eye based on your previous and current relationships? Thought so!

Along those same lines, what about non-romantic political power couples? Take for instance Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. With talk of a Democratic "dream ticket", Hillary and Obama could very well be in for a four year-long courtship as President and Vice-President. Who will "commit" to what role certainly remains to be seen, but, a recent invitation from Caesars Pocono Resorts for the candidates to hold a "friendly" debate on-property may help to rekindle their shared love of the blue party and keep those political sparks flying. What better place than where love lives to get them thinking about their latest "long-term relationship"?

More Sleep Equals More Sex?

If you’re wondering why your sex life has been lacking its luster lately, take into consideration how much sleep you and your partner have been getting.

With the amount of extra hours Americans are putting in between office work and household responsibilities, people are functioning at a much lower cognitive level than they should. When people don’t get the necessary amount of sleep, “they’re not going to be as attentive, they're going to make more mistakes, be more irritable," said Dr. Nicholas Rummo, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, N.Y.

According to a new poll recently released by the National Sleep Foundation, 20 percent of men and women surveyed nationwide have either lost interest in sex or have sex less often because of sleepiness.

Other research shows that 20 million married Americans have sex fewer than 10 times a year. That number absolutely baffles me. According to southwest Florida Pastor Paul Wirth of Relevant Church, “much marital discord stems from this lack of intimacy.” A lack of sexual pleasure in the bedroom can doom your relationship. “Sexless marriages (defined as sex less than 10 times a year) do not just invite infidelity and resentment,” said Wirth, “they also create rifts between husband and wife that often go unspoken and unhealed.”

So, my advice, plain and simple, is get more sleep! Your body, mind, and marriage depend on it!

Turn Up The Heat!

Looking to spice things up with your partner but not sure where to begin? May I please recommend Redbook’s “21 Sex Moves That Will Rock Your World (and His!)”. This racy reference material is filled with pleasure pointers that are sure to help you turn up the heat!