Melina Macall, founder and president of Muti Oils in Montclair, N.J., offers these steps for a perfect couples massage:

1. Set the mood. Diffuse essential oils, choosing the aroma that suits your desire: lavender to relax; jasmine, rose or ylang ylang for sensuality; citrus for fun.

2. Choose a relaxing environment where you wont be disturbed. Turn off the phone and TV, and reduce the lighting.

3. Get into comfortable, easy-to-remove clothes. Have a surface you dont mind getting massage oil on.

4. Add some soft music.

5. Listen to each other. Be prepared to tell your partner what you want. If the pressure is too strong or too light, say something. If there is somewhere you want to be touched, let the masseur/masseuse know.

6. Work on one part of the body at a time. A head and face massage using light circular strokes with the tips of the fingers is very relaxing. Deeper movements with the whole hand on the shoulders can remove a month's worth of stress in minutes.

7. Most importantly, enjoy yourselves! Take pleasure in learning what pleases your partner. And take pleasure in receiving.