San Diego is one of America’s fittest cities, and since those workout-induced muscle knots have to go somewhere, many choose to unwind with a San Diego couples massage. They certainly have plenty of options—in fact, they can plan a couples massage at many of the best spas in San Diego. Heck, they can even learn to give each other better massages thanks to the classes at The Love Lab.

But the truth is, if you want to get better at giving your partner massages yourself, you’ll need to know more than technique. You’ll also need to understand the advantages of different massage oils. Here’s a rundown of why you’d select one kind over another.

For getting your vitamins

Produced by compressing sunflower seeds, sunflower oil contains a wealth of vitamins A, B, D, and E, which help soothe bruises and skin disease. One other benefit: it doesn’t feel as greasy as many other oils.

For sensitive skin

Though the name is a bit of a misnomer—it’s actually a liquid wax produced from the seeds of the jojoba plant—jojoba oil has one big thing going for it: it doesn’t block the pores or trigger allergies. It too is prized for its non-greasy consistency.

For moisturizing skin

Apricot-kernel oil penetrates the skin swiftly, delivering moisturizing and vitamin E to skin cells along the way. It’s one of the more expensive massage oils, so encountering its nutty aroma is something of a rare treat at resorts in San Diego.

For moisturizing skin—and saving money

Bitter almonds have their uses—cooking oil and amaretto, for instance—but for massage it’s all about the sweet almond oil. Generally suited to any skin type (though not for anyone with nut allergies, obviously), the oil is thought to help soothe chapped lips and dry skin, making it a cost-effective alternative to apricot-kernel oil. It doesn't penetrate skin as deeply, but it can still be used as an efficient carrier for essential oils used in aromatherapy.