Why do we feel more desire in summer?

Summer is coming… Lemonade while lounging on a sunbed. Beach days or barbecues with friends! We dream about it all year, but that’s not all we’re craving. We want a bit of action!

When your only worries are whether to put a slice of lemon in your cocktail or which swimsuit will spare you some dodgy tan lines, you’ve got all the time in the world to listen to your body and indulge its every whim. Mmm, that Greek god or goddess of a backside in those shorts — come over here… You get the idea! You don’t have to wait for sunshine and soaring temperatures to get fired up, but for many of us, our libido reaches a whole new level in summer. Why is that?

Brain: off mode activated 

One of the first things to affect our libido is our emotions! Stress in particular plays a huge part in our love-life barometer. We might love our partner with all our heart or be seriously attracted to our crush, but when worries pile up, jumping into their arms usually isn’t the first thing on our mind.

But when we leave the office, hand the kids over to their grandparents or set off on a solo trip, for example, we leave our everyday worries behind. Our brains switch to “off” mode and stress levels tumble. With a healthy mind and a healthy body, that’s all it takes for those steamy urges to come roaring back!

And there’s no need to wait until summer to keep stress at bay. Apparently, meditation can work wonders for a more zen day-to-day life. Better still, you don’t need to block out a huge chunk of your diary or push your body to its limits to give it a go! Petit Bambou, a real guru of self-love and letting go, is an app worth trying if you fancy giving meditation a go!

Hormones: your desire’s boss 

Hormones play a major role in our romantic lives and sexuality. They regulate sooo many things, including our libido. For example, we use the crackling, moisturising passion fruit massage foam for a little caressing. And just like that... our bodies start releasing serotonin to get us in the mood. It’s called the ‘pleasure hormone’, but it’s actually a neurotransmitter...

Anyway, you’re probably not here for a science lesson. What really matters is that there’s more of it around in summer. We can thank the longer, brighter days for that. That’s why our desire will go through the roof and we’ll be looking for fun between the sheets this summer. And if you haven’t spotted your summer fling yet, perhaps it’s time to let fate take the lead:

The summer dress code

The sun’s out, it’s warm — time to bring out your best summer outfits! And warmer weather means lighter, shorter clothes and more skin on show. Our imaginations do a pretty good job of picturing what’s beneath those chunky winter jumpers, but seeing is much easier than imagining. Yes, we noticed you fancy the server in their summer “uniform”. How many times have you asked if they’re sure they don’t have a watermelon mojito — three?

It’s only human: what we see plays a huge part in desire. So as long as your glances aren’t making anyone uncomfortable and don’t become persistent or one-sided, there’s no reason not to make eye contact and see if your new crush is interested.

And if they take the bait and things look like they might heat up, take a look at our tips for having sex when it’s hot... They’ll help you avoid overheating — you can thank me later!

This might also be the time to stock up on products that will help you keep cool, so you don’t have to think twice before getting down to some steamy cuddles. “It’s so hot, I’m not sure I’m in the mood” will be a thing of the past!

Among my personal favourites, I’d recommend trying — or rediscovering — these:

• The warming and cooling gloss for next-level oral play, with its lovely strawberry flavour

• The absolutely brilliant cooling-effect lube from YESforLOVE. It glides beautifully, and its water-based formula is compatible with your toys and condoms... So there’s no reason to miss out on your summer flings!

• And if you’re not in the mood to date this summer, or you want to have fun with a toy as a pair (or more), you can opt for glass dildos like Däo or Loa... Pop them in the fridge for a few minutes before play and you’ll love the deliciously cool sensations they bring