n a recent episode of HGTV’s “Landscapers’ Challenge,” a group of designers was asked to create an outdoor retreat for a newly engaged woman. Her small, grassy backyard had a plain concrete patio and portable spa.
The lot was boring — nothing like her new life. “She wanted something romantic for herself and her fiancée,” says Chuck Carr, a landscape designer who appeared on the show.
He used thick plantings to create a private nook around the spa. He also added cozy stone walkways and a European-style mural on one wall of the yard. “There is definitely a market for romantic and intimate backyard designs,” Carr says.
Many experts agree with him. “Couples are looking for places other than their bedrooms that are magical and enticing,” says Sheri Stritof, co-author of The Everything Great Marriage Book (Adams Media Corp., 2003). Modern couples are busy and overworked. They crave soothing escapes where they can reconnect with their partners on a more intimate level.
Today, that refuge seems to be in backyards across the nation as a growing number of couples include romantic and sensual themes in their aquascapes. “There is a natural phenomenon that goes on when a couple gets into a spa or pool together,” says Greg Smith, co-partner of Liquid Assets in Austin, Texas. “In most cases, both are close to being undressed, and they’re checking each other out.”
For exterior designers and builders such as Carr and Smith, promoting sensuality in the backyard is a lucrative, high-end niche. Today’s clients include all segments of the population — young and old, singles and couples, urban and suburban — and creating the ultimate outdoor love nest is easier than you think.
“The more of your senses you can incorporate, the greater the experience will be,” says Miriam R. Davis, a certified sex therapist in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Below are five ways to enhance intimacy with your next pool or spa project by appealing to sight, smell, sound, taste and touch.
Sight
Humans rely heavily on visual cues, and the sense of sight is closely tied to sexual desire, particularly in men. With that in mind, use soft shapes when designing a visually stimulating Garden of Eden. “If you think about it, when it comes to pool design, half the structures are based on the female form — some with a larger bust, some with a larger buttocks area,” says Scott Cohen, president of The Green Scene Landscape Design & Construction in Canoga Park, Calif. “You kind of work with the female shape.”
 The Sensual Backyard: Sight
Irritating: Large concrete walls, decks and structures. The hard surface tends to have a cooling effect on the libido. “Concrete isn’t visually romantic,” Carr says. “The clients who go for romantic getaways bring the gardens and trees closer. Younger couples have smaller backyards, which is why you see more intimate designs.”
Irresistible: The unseen rather than the seen. Whether it’s a waterfall-hidden grotto, a sunken fire pit sheltered by shrubbery or a secluded, meandering pathway between thick whispering willows, Carr says it’s important to create privacy nooks. |
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Science tends to support Cohen’s theory. “We didn’t evolve in an environment of straight lines,” says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., an anthropologist at Rutgers University and author of Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love (Henry Holt and Co., 2004). “Nature isn’t straight, so make all the lines in the yard curvy. Create bends and turns you wouldn’t normally expect.”
When deciding on plant life, consider large palms, tall papyrus, hibiscus, calla lilies and soft ferns. These species are considered some of the oldest in the world and the most erotic due to their exotic shapes, says Steve Hug, a landscape architect in Los Angeles, who also worked on the HGTV special.
To ensure that the proper ambiance is achieved, ask the couple where they honeymooned or regularly vacation. For instance, if the clients see Hawaii as romantic, opt for tropical foliage and flowers, or large waterfalls.
“Atmosphere is everything, especially for women,” Davis says. “If there’s no mood or ambiance, there won’t be a good sexual encounter. The key is to find an atmosphere that the clients consider erotic, sensual and relaxing.”
To achieve the right environment, use subtle, soft lighting schemes. These may include LED and low-voltage lighting, or perimeter fiberoptics. Dim lighting forces pupils to expand, which also increases arousal. In low-light conditions, plant white flowers to create a luminous, ethereal look.
Color choices in materials are critical as well. Opt for warm shades, such as soft creams and sandy reds, in your decks and paints.
Reds, fuchsias and deep oranges are believed to stimulate the production of neurotransmitters linked to sexual arousal, Fisher says. Stay away from cooler, mood-killing hues such as blue.
Smell
The sense of smell can be a powerful mood-enhancer, especially for women, who have a stronger olfactory ability than men. “Smell goes directly to the primitive parts of the brain associated with emotion, and it can call up all types of memories,” Fisher says.
The simplest way to appeal to the sense of smell is through landscaping. Some plants can increase neurochemicals linked to attraction and arousal.
 The Sensual Backyard: Smell
Irritating: Overly pungent plants, which may create an unpleasant distraction. Consult with the client about potential allergies and select plants that are pollinated by birds or insects rather than relying on wind. No one wants to suffer an attack of hay fever in the middle of a passionate embrace.
Irresistible: Natural, woodsy aromas, which trigger animalistic instincts. Achieve the sensation by lining paths with mulch material and tree shavings. Use aromatic wooden decking, such as pine or redwood, around hot tubs. Or place scented logs in fireplaces as an alternative to fragrant plants. |
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Sweet-smelling plants such as jasmine, lavender and gardenias are proven “turn-ons.” They have the ability to calm and relax both genders, enabling seduction to occur. In fact, researchers at Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation have found that vanilla and lavender are among the scents that can enhance arousal, says Kevin Pezzi, M.D., author of The Science of Sex: Enhancing Sexual Pleasure, Performance, Attraction and Desire (www.ERbook.net).
Steer clear of water lilies and dill, which many scientists believe decrease sexual potency. “Star jasmine or honeysuckle vines around a pool enclosure will create a nice scent year ’round,” says Carr of Carr Landscape Management Inc. in Porter Ranch, Calif.
“You can also bring in angel’s trumpet, which is a shrub that has large flowers hanging upside down,” he adds. “They’re ornate and have a nice aroma, especially late in the evening.”
Design a small herb garden with crisp mint, rosemary, basil or sage to create a more sensual setting. Some landscapers even use creeping thyme in place of grass. The bright ground cover can drape secluded pathways with a crimson blanket and, when walked upon, emit a subtle scent.
If aromatic plants are not an option, capture the same garden scents by installing an environmental diffuser. These motorized devices atomize the essential oils of plants to emit fragrance without dispersing pollen or irritants.
Sound
From the dawn of our species, moving water has been one of the most soothing sounds to the human ear. Even babies in the womb respond to the natural rhythm of ocean waves.
 The Sensual Backyard: Sound
Irritating: Any annoying noise, such as cars and barking dogs. Strategically align rock waterfalls and fountains with walls and fences to eliminate unpleasant sounds.
Irresistible: For a calm sound, hang wind chimes in the yard. Bamboo chimes echo like distant drums when they sway, which creates beating rhythms that are considered a sexual trigger.
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“Mankind has needed to be near water for millions of years,” anthropologist Fisher says. “We’re attracted to water, particularly a waterfall. It’s exciting and unusual, and constantly changing — and it has noise and motion to it.
“Excitement drives up dopamine in the brain,” she adds, pointing out that in brain scans, love is characterized by elevated levels of the chemical.
Still, men and women often define sensual water sounds in different ways. “You have to be careful when you’re designing the flow and sound [of waterfeatures]; it becomes a design for the sexes,” Cohen of The Green Scene says. “Men always want more water and pumps. Women usually want a gurgling brook, something more soothing and mellow.”
Rain curtains and water walls are a gender-neutral option. These features often are reminiscent of distant storms, which many couples equate with intimacy. Combine this sound with the crackling of nearby flames and raw passion is guaranteed, says Smith of Liquid Assets.
“As a normal course of design, I will put fire features on the far side of a pool,” he says. “Fire offers so much. It goes back to that primal thing, man and woman and the evolution of our species.”
Give the customer the option of selecting sounds or music they find sensual. Install outdoor speakers with poolside controls to enhance enjoyment.
Taste
The sense of taste as it pertains to sexuality is often neglected. But don’t leave out this important — and pleasurable — aspect of human intimacy.
 The Sensual Backyard: Taste
Irritating: Sanitizers that leave water tasting bitter and clammy. Install alternatives such as ozone ionization systems, which largely eliminate the need for chlorine.
Irresistible: Scientists believe that 90 percent of taste is influenced by smell. Focus on plants that emit flavorful scents when designing a landscape. For instance, Ponderosa pines have a sweet smell reminiscent of vanilla and butterscotch. Many orchid species secrete seductive scents similar to chocolate, orange and even angel food cake. |
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Many clients consider the act of feeding small berries to each other highly erotic. When in bloom, access to a grape arbor can be a sensual poolside experience on a warm evening, Cohen says.
Plant fruit-bearing foliage such as blackberry or strawberry vines near the most intimate nooks in the yard. Limit yourself to fruits that are easy to eat and delicate in texture.
Don’t underestimate the value of fruit trees either. Historically, they are an important part of the mating ritual. In fact, the Chinese believed apricots and peaches to be erotic symbols, while the ancient Greeks considered figs a sexual stimulant because the seeds emulate the ovaries.
Pomegranate plants also may spur primal instincts. Some Bible historians believe Eve’s “forbidden fruit” was the pomegranate rather than the much-touted apple. “Anything you can hunt or gather, like grapes or berries, or even an orange tree, not only have a great smell, but you can pick and eat them,” Fisher says. “That’s exciting. It’s all about novelty.”
If the client opposes fruit-bearing plants, install a wine cooler or small refrigerator. It gives couples easy access to champagne, chocolate and other tantalizing finger foods. Cohen, for one, designs nearly all his provocative poolscapes with spa-side wine racks and bar stools, which he says his clients appreciate.
Touch
Touch is by far the most important sense to couples. The best way to stimulate the skin in a sensual aquascape is with a spa, builders say.
 The Sensual Backyard: Touch
Irritating: Rough surfaces in and around the pool. Buff flagstone edges and coping to smooth the pool’s perimeter. Steer clear of pebble aggregate finishes, which are more abrasive and bumpier than other interiors. Also, keep prickly cacti or
thorn-filled rose bushes away from seating areas.
Irresistible: Warming devices such as outdoor heaters, fireplaces and fire pits, which provide a cozy atmosphere on cool evenings. “There’s nothing worse than going outside with a beautiful woman who is in the right mood and have it be freezing cold,” Goldstone says. “Any mood she was in will be gone.” |
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“We never tell a client that our spas are designed for the best sex they’ll ever have, but it is,” Cohen of The Green Scene says. “We create some deep-well spas for couples who want to enjoy spending intimate time together and be able to stand up fully in the water.”
Cohen’s signature spa is 5 feet deep. It’s got a smaller step at the bottom, so a shorter partner can stand comfortably without slipping. In addition, Cohen installs a set of six jets, including a heated one on the floor. “If you sit your wife in a spa with heated jets on her feet and surround her with chocolate-scented geraniums, you can’t go wrong,” he says.
On the other hand, Don Goldstone, owner of Ultimate Water Creations in Beverly Hills, Calif., has designed what he unabashedly calls a “genital jet.” It’s an in-seat nozzle created especially for women. The vertical jet produces a smaller stream of water and has a valve to control the flow speed.
Smith of Liquid Assets has several characteristic touch elements as well. For example, the builder instructs clients in Watsu, a form of intimate touch therapy performed in heated, shallow water. “I’ve also discovered a feature I call ‘champagne therapy,’” he says. “I direct the ozone bubbles from the sanitizer, which are tiny bubbles, to a particular spot.
“It feels like effervescent little tingles, as if you’re standing in a champagne bottle,” Smith adds. “It’s the finest sensation.”
In addition, most builders recommend installing a tile finish on the spas. These silky surfaces are gentler and less likely to cause cuts or bruises on exposed skin. “If you’re unclothed, you want the material to be nonabrasive against your skin,” Goldstone says. “The feel against your buttocks should be soft. If you can’t tile it, I recommend using the pebble sheen finishes.”
More importantly, try to achieve a subtle balance between elements meant to soothe and those that seek to excite. “You want things that are playful so you can play,” anthropologist Fisher says. “You want things that are intimate so you have privacy and can relax.”
Indeed, sparks can fly in a well-executed, sensual backyard. “A romantic poolscape is not a quickie thing,” Goldstone says. “It takes time. Put it together with design ability and ingenuity, and it’s a masterpiece.”
