The room is warm, too warm for wearing much in the way of clothes, but this doesn't seem to be a problem here. The scent of cinnamon, orange, and something unidentifiable permeates the air. Dim, wavering light flickers from an assortment of candles on the dresser, casting the shadow of two lovers against the wall, each enjoying the feel of the other's smooth warm skin against their own. The mood is relaxed, yet on the brink of something else. The physical contact between the two seems to calm and soothe, and yet invigorate at the same time, heightening their sense of touch...

Sound romantic? Maybe a little sensual? It is.

Touch is a powerful tool, it can soothe, reassure, relax, arouse, invigorate, and stimulate all at the same time. A simpler, more effective and enjoyable way of creating intimacy likely does not exist. Learning just a little about massage can help you reap the greatest potential out of you and your partner's sense of touch, and this article is here to help. There are a few basic components to a good romantic massage, but other than that you can feel free to let your imagination run wild, and see what happens when you're done!

There is really very little you absolutely need to give a good massage, other than a willing partner, but there are a wide variety of items that can add to the experience.

The Oil

There is a vast array of massage oils available for whatever purpose you might have in mind, whether it be relaxation, pain relief, or seduction, but these can be expensive. You may find it cheaper to use your own homemade massage oil. Almost any oil will do, and each oil has a variety of different properties that may make it more or less suitable for your purposes. A great all purpose oil, used by many massage therapists, is sweet almond oil. A fantastic and useful video guide to massage oils can be found here.

The Table

There's a reason massage therapists use specialized tables, which you will soon find out if you attempt to massage your partner while in an awkward position. Massage tables put the recipient at an ideal height, helping to spare your back some extreme discomfort. But don't worry, you can use almost any suitably large surface area as a great place to give someone a massage, you just need to remember to keep your back straight! Beds, couches, futons, open spots on the floor, (maybe even your kitchen table!), all can be used, however it may be necessary to have a chair or cushion nearby that will allow you to sit and lower your relative position to avoid bending your back too much.

Sheets, Towels, and Cushions

Oil is a notorious stainer of fabrics, so it would be ideal to have an old sheet or large towel underneath your partner to catch any drips or spills. Cushions or rolled up towels should be used to support the chest, the head, and optionally, the feet, placed just at the ankles. Also, the room might be cold for massage partners in various stages of undress, so any part of the body that isn't being worked on should be covered.

Half of the enjoyment of the experience is all in the mood rather than the actual massage itself, and the most important thing is comfort. Both you and your massage partner should be perfectly comfortable, and nobody's limbs should be going numb from staying too long in one position. Other than this basic requirement, there are a few other guidelines to setting the mood for a romantic massage.

• Food and drink: Before the massage even begins is a great time to ply your romantic partner with bribes of stereotypically romantic foods. A little wine and a variety of chocolate covered fruits (strawberries being the most popular) are perfect for the occasion!
• Candles: creates the perfect romantic atmosphere, especially when they are the only source of light. Scented candles can be a nice addition, so long as you both enjoy the smell.
• Music: As with all of these mood setting devices, this is completely optional, some people prefer to have low music in the background, whereas I prefer silence, perhaps the sound of crickets, or rain, or the night breeze coming in the open window. If you do choose to have music, keep it low and keep it slow, but more importantly make sure it's music you enjoy. You can choose from a variety of new-agey ambient music or nature sounds, or you can put on some nice soft jazz, the choice is yours!
• Incense: Incense can add a nice aromatic touch to your romantic moment, but be cautious with its use! If you are already using scented candles, or scented oil, the combination of so many powerful scents can be noxious! Also make sure your partner doesn't abhor the scent of patchouli (for example) before you purchase your chosen incense, and be sure to place it in a location where the smoke will not bother your eyes or lungs.
• Temperature: The temperature should be a little warmer than you would usually like, since at least one person will have at least their shirt off!
  

Now as far as I'm concerned, as long as you try you can't go far wrong when it comes to massage. but some people are more naturally adept than others, and everyone could use some brushing up to make it seem like they know what they're doing. When applying the oil, make sure to rub it between your palms to warm it up! You always begin by lightly running your hands over your partner's back, spreading the oil. If this is a particularly romantic massage, before you apply the oil you may want to begin in almost the same way... but replace "hands" with "lips" and then proceed to apply the oil.

As for tips and tricks, I can't give you many myself, not being a massage therapist and all, but I can point you to where I learned to massage (and I have never had any complaints with the results! This site contains many massage videos and great advice, I've just linked to the one I like the best. There are videos on how to massage just about every part on the human body, I encourage you to visit! However, since these are not YouTube videos, I had to find a different one to embed below, which I feel is also very good. So watch and learn my dear readers, and then get into the bedroom to practice!