WHEN SHE'S HAD A BATH

There's a reason why the Cadbury's Flake woman savoured her chocolate in the tub: "To women, a bubble bath is a sensory-deprivation tank: it shuts out noise, work and responsibilities," says Dr Scott Haltzman, the author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men.

"A fundamental of female sexual arousal is the ability to push concerns out of the mind," adds Siski Green, the author of How to Blow Her Mind in Bed. "A hot bath is also arousing, as it stimulates the senses with warmth and the texture of the bubbles. Women are socially conditioned to be aroused by a bath, since ads associate it with decadence."

What to do: "Don't jump in; let her unwind," says Green. Stock the bathroom with a pot of inNature Seaweed & Cucumber Face Mask ($19.95; innature.com.au) and a Gourmet Candle Company Banana and Walnut candle ($14.95; gourmetcandleco.com.au). The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in the US found cucumber, banana and nut scents increase blood flow to the vagina.
And when she steps out of the bath, you'll be waiting with a big, warm, fluffy towel

. . .AFTER WATCHING WILDLIFE ON TV

Who'd have thought it? David Attenborough's whispered description of rutting rhinos turns out to be a turn-on. Psychologists at Chicago's Northwestern University found that women became physically aroused after watching mammals (and other animals) mating on television.

"When she sees it on TV, she'll subconsciously seek physical contact," says Tracey Cox, the author of Superflirt. So turn to the Discovery Channel and obey the law of the jungle.

What to do: "She'll be physically but not mentally aroused, so you still have work to do," warns Green. "Try a head or foot massage. Her oxytocin levels will soar and it'll sensitise her skin.

"If she presses her body into yours, she's ready to move things up a gear. Keep it on the sofa rather than taking it to the bedroom: studies by the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands have shown that novelty produces more dopamine, which gives you a stronger orgasm."

Unless, of course, your flatmates are watching the box, too.

WHEN SHE FANCIES A CURRY

Unless she's demanding a 2am vindaloo after too much tequila, her craving for a curry means she's in the mood for spice in the bedroom.

"Like sex, spicy foods stimulate the production of dopamine, the body's reward chemical, and also mimic the physiological effects of intercourse, like sweating and raised heart rate," says Green. "She says that she fancies a curry, but what she really fancies is you."

What to do: there's no need to spend an hour in the kitchen; stoke her fires with a Lindt Excellence Chilli dark chocolate bar ($3.88, available from Woolworths) as an aperitif.

The University of Sussex in the UK found women get more pleasure from eating chocolate than from 10 minutes' kissing.

But make sure you indulge, too. "Sharing food makes her feel closer to you and more likely to want sex," according to human sexuality expert Dr Sadie Allison, founder and CEO of online erotica resource ticklekitty.com.

WHEN SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN

It's no coincidence that the sight of Nigella drooling over a chocolate cake will stir your own ingredients.

"Cooking sparked the evolution of sexual behaviour," explains Dr Richard Wrangham, professor of biological anthropology at Harvard University. "Back when food had to be gathered and stored, the chances of it being stolen were high. Women overcame this by offering meals and sexual favours to men who would protect them."

What to do: lend a hand by preparing dessert. A study in Psychology Today showed that men who step up to the cooker are twice as likely to get sex as those who can't take the heat in the kitchen.

Choose your dish carefully, too: more research from the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation found the scent of vanilla and cinnamon acts as a sexual arouser by increasing blood flow to the vagina. We assume the aroma of charcoaled toast has the opposite effect.

A DAY AFTER SHE'S HAD A BRAZILIAN

We're talking about a wax down there, not a good time with a ball-juggling South American lothario. After a wax, a woman feels extremely sexy and is usually in the mood for showing off her body.

"Not only will she want her new, streamlined look to be admired, her skin will be ultra-responsive to touch in that area 24 hours after," says Green. "A day will also be long enough for any redness or tenderness to disappear."

What to do: take your time and comment on her new look. "Remove her clothes slowly. She wants to feel like you appreciate the effort she has gone to," says Dr Pam Spurr, author of Fabulous Foreplay.

"Kiss her belly, working down to the crease between her leg and upper body: the skin here is ultra-thin and veins are extremely close to the surface," continues Spurr. "Once you've reached her bikini line, gently lick her skin to stimulate even more nerve endings."