As if America needs one more ecological reason to feel guilt, especially regarding sex. The necessity to become a more environmentally aware society is growing and the green wave is spreading into the bedroom. The amount of natural and organic aphrodisiacs now available on the market is astounding. Because they are usually created with the purest of ingredients and materials, organic can often be equivalent to luxury, and we all know that luxury equals very sexy. Sensual bamboo bed sheets, soy-wax candles perfumed with pure essential oils, eco-friendly lingerie, organic massage oils, earth-friendly lubricants, and natural sex toys are orchestrating a mass invasion into the sex market and making it very sexy to be eco-friendly.

The best lovers are attentive and they are dedicated to pursuing objects and products of the utmost excellence. As a class of niche products, the label of “organic” often regards products as being of the highest quality. When produced by smaller companies, the level of quality and attention to detail remain intact due to the emphasis on craftsmanship. Small companies tend to focus on maintaining their morals, and if they started with an environmentally sound approach, chances are they stick to their roots. The conventional sex marketplace is chemically cluttered.

Lubricants are loaded with petroleum-derived ingredients and preservatives. Sex toys made from plastics usually contain harmful substances called phthalates, which have been removed from children’s toys because they are proven to have a negative impact on health. There are ways to reform in all aspects: from what we eat, what we drive, how we shower, knowing what makes the clothes and sexy underthings we wear, to how we enhance our sex lives. It is more than a trend to become more conscientious about our everyday lifestyle in regards to our environment. This philosophy is beautiful when applied to sex: to treat sex as the ultimate, as something in which only the highest quality standard of all its aspects should apply.

Satin sheets, long touted as the epitome of sensual, are outdated when compared to bamboo. Bamboo is an incredibly renewable natural resource, so much so that it requires very little water and virtually no pesticides or fertilizer to grow prosperously. In comparison to the growing methods of conventional cotton, which is perhaps the most chemically sprayed plant in all of agriculture, bamboo is definitely the more conscientious choice. Bamboo sheets are soft, silky and breathable, giving far better grip and traction than slippery satin, for sure, especially when physical activities such as “making your bed” are considered. Although the thread counts may seem low in comparison to those of cotton sheets, bamboo is better quality, even stacked up against the finest Egyptian cotton. The desire for bamboo bedding is growing to such an extent that even mainstream retailers, like Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond, offer a large selection of colors at very affordable prices—yet another reason it’ll make you smile: Bamboo sheets cost noticeably less than even mediocre cotton sheets!

Save the planet in your skivvies: Enamore, an England-based lingerie company, creates sexy and playful lingerie from sustainable fabrics, blending hemp and cotton with silk and even recycled vintage fabrics. For everyday basics, companies like Green Knickers

and old faithful Patagonia carry underwear made from organic cotton. Patagonia, a long-time leader in ecological innovation, takes green design one step further with their Capilene fabric, comprised of at least 50 percent recycled polyester. They also use organic cotton, organic wool, chlorine-free wool and hemp. They are so involved with various environmental practices that they even offer a recycling program for their patrons who are through with recyclable Patagonia goods.

For creating an atmosphere for seduction, candles are a no-fail aphrodisiac to set the tone of ambiance, casting warmth and golden light on the skin. Unlike most conventional candles, which are often created from a slew of synthetic waxes that produce toxic fumes and release chemicals when burned, there are plenty of sensual green alternatives. Candles made from palm oil, soy wax and beeswax are the best choices because they are entirely natural and therefore do not negatively invade the deepest realms of your lungs while you’re playing Twister to Barry White. Eco-minded companies like Smith and Hawken and Pacifica Candles create the most luxurious all-natural wax candles, scented with pure essential oils. The scents are delightful and intoxicating and available in many traditional aphrodisiac scents, like jasmine, sandalwood, fig, orange flower blossom (neroli) and amber. The purity is quite evident upon burning and will certainly satisfy your conscious mood (in more ways than one).

Going all natural in the bedroom does not stop when it comes to lubricating your creative naughties of choice. Contrary to conventional products, which often contain synthetic chemicals and petroleum byproducts, natural lubes don’t. And, why should you use anything but the most pure formulas on your very sensitive party organs? Available are all-natural and organic varieties, which have hailed very giddy results. Sensua Organics is a company dedicated to making a range of sexual lubricants, even for specific conditions and situations. Other popular and eco-friendly choices are Collective Wellbeing, Firefly

and Sympathical, all of which are latex safe. For massages, companies like Druide, Aura Cacia and Earth Naturals create sensual massage creams to titillate the senses with aphrodisiac aromas.

The sex toy scene is contaminated with a lot of cheap, filthy plastics. When it comes to choosing toys, opt for natural materials like glass, or metal, which are both recyclable in the long run. Both materials also up the sexiness when you consider their artistic appeal; blown glass and metal penises sure are beautiful just to look at for their sculptural eroticism, as well as the sparks to the imagination they may ensue. A hand-blown (no pun intended) glass dildo is equally aesthetically pleasing as it is orgasmically pleasing; you can use it as decorative art, too! Both glass and metal take to wetness very well, and are very smooth, silky feeling to the touch. And for those who are taken with the exotic (and expensive), pure jade dildos are available, which are also orgasmically organic.

The organic orgasmic extreme can also be the easiest: a trip to your local organic grocery store for a good old cucumber, carrot, or for those with more exaggerated desires, a zucchini. The great thing about vegetarian dildos is that they will decompose when disposed of, or become an edible invitation with all the fixins’! Hmm. If glass, metal or vegetables are not your forte, silicone toys are the next best things to organic because they are not porous nor do they contain harmful phthalates, like inferior plastic toys.

However, something to consider about silicone, is that it is completely indecomposable. In Her Tube, a grassroots company, creates strap-on harnesses and bondage gear from recycled inner tubes originating from cars, trucks, and other heavy equipment tires. Even spanking has its eco-friendly option: sustainable, fair-trade wooden paddles, available.

After practicing a green lifestyle for the past few years and becoming quite immersed in living a very natural lifestyle, I can attest to the amount of wonderful benefits that have come as a surprise. Organic food is not just for your tummy; I swear my husband’s semen has the most delicious, sweetest taste, after consuming a regular diet of mostly organic, minimally processed foods. Time-tested aphrodisiacs like chocolate, spices and wine are readily available organically. It may take more effort, but being green is great for the body and mind.

With the light that is now being shed onto the dirty things that have been done to the environment, how dependent as a culture we have become to petrochemicals and wasteful energy, it is clear that change is imminent. From doing little mindful deeds, like using candlelight instead of electric lights; showers for two instead of solo; doing things that take a little more effort, like choosing the ecological option in all products available, being mindful towards our world, and towards our lovers, is very satisfying indeed.