Free The Ultimate Guide to Cunnilingus by Violet Blue Page A

in keeping the pH low. Healthy, juicy women will have a slightly sweet, slightly pungent scent, very near that of room-temperature plain yogurt.
     
    When a woman’s vaginal pH climbs, her secretions smell stronger. The yogurt spoils; the Chianti is corked. It doesn’t take much to upset the balance and change the pH in the vaginal ecosystem, and the troublemakers come in a trinity: douching, soap, and semen. Douching is extremely harsh and is one of the biggest causes of vaginal infections. Regular soap is a big culprit—most body soaps range in pH anywhere from 7.0 to 14! The final usurper of our peaceful flora and fauna is male ejaculate, measuring in at an alkaline pH of 8 (more alkaline than saliva, tears, or sweat), enough to transform our gentle scent within minutes.
     
     
If you both are concerned about cleanliness, try showering together beforehand, or taking a sensual bath. If you’re unsure about what your initial reaction to her taste might be, try this: As you seduce, arouse, and titillate in the stages of foreplay, take the time to become accustomed to the scent of her skin. Gently massage her vulva with your hand, and try a taste of her on your fingers. This way, you can change your mind before it’s too late—or discover the true meaning behind those beautiful poetic references to “my lover’s sweet nectar.”

 
     
    But being clean for our lovers is important, and so the best thing for women who want to wash up before oral sex is to purchase a hypoallergenic soap with a low pH, something you can find at drugstores. Women with sensitive vaginas may want to use these soaps on a regular basis. One little-known fact is that the human mouth is less hygienic than the vagina, and folks who are going down will want to do their own bit of washing up, too. Before you begin your sexual encounter, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. Brushing your teeth may produce tiny cuts in your mouth—don’t do it if you want to avoid fluid transmission during unprotected cunnilingus.
     
    The natural taste of a woman’s vulva can range from slightly tangy to a slippery saltiness to even containing a hint of iron around the time of her menstrual cycle. Strong foods such as asparagus and garlic can influence the vulva’s environment, and so can vitamins. Flavors and aromas secreted from an aroused woman’s genitalia are so packed with chemicals and pheromones that they make a powerful biochemical aphrodisiac. However, this doesn’t mean that her chemistry will “click” with yours, or that your lover will have the same sweet taste every day of the month. Should you notice a marked change in your sweetie’s bouquet, and you have both established trust about oral sex, you might gently bring it to her attention, as it could warrant a health check.
     
    Either way, while the receiver of your most tender affections is present, tact is utmost. Most women in our culture have grown up with cloying “freshness” commercials and ugly schoolyard jokes about tuna reinforcing a distinct sexual shame. How each woman internalizes this is unique, from realizing it’s not true to really believing she is dirty and disgusting. For many women there is nothing hotter under the sun than a lover who revels in her tastes and smells and makes it crystal-clear that they absolutely love to have her in their mouth. Be sensitive and let her know how much you enjoy everything about her. And don’t forget, there’s a whole lot more to oral sex than orgasm—it’s about making your lover feel good all over—body, heart, and spirit.
     
I like going down on my wife after she’s just worked out at the gym. Tasting her is so intense that I almost come when she does, without even touching myself!

     

Beard Burn
     
    If you’ve got hair growing on your face, take a moment to think about how it might feel on sensitive genitalia. Conversely, if you like the clean-shaven look, beware of stubble that can turn your romantic overtures into