If you’re looking to add a new layer of excitement to your bedroom, sensory play may be a good place to start. But what is sensory play, and what’s all the fuss about?
Sensory play is a type of intimate practice, one that can also be considered a kink, that involves engaging multiple senses. This includes a sense of touch (velvet, fur, latex, leather), a sense of temperature (warm wax, cold metal, ice cubes), scent (perfumes and candles), and anticipation. The basis of sensory play is that by engaging these senses, other forms of pleasure are heightened.
If you’re familiar with edging, there is a similar principle here. It’s all about anticipation, which can be great for foreplay - a slow build-up to mind-blowing pleasures.
Foundations of Sensory Play
Sensory play, also called “sensation play,” has been around for a long time. Like, a looong time. If you include light sensory stimulation, such as liking, biting, and erotic tickling, it goes back just as far as you can imagine. There are Japanese artworks dating back to the 1790s that portray nipple biting, and drawings from the 1860s portraying sensual tickling and restraint.
Sensory play can be more of an umbrella term, encompassing other forms of sensual stimulation like wax play, BDSM, and pain play. But for now, we’ll focus on keeping it simple. The incorporation of different textures can heighten pleasure during intimacy. Focus on textures that you and your partner find sexy. If you just love the feeling of silk sheets, invest in that and other silky textures like tie-ups. If there is a certain perfume that really gets you going, having your partner wear that is an example of sensory play that is approachable and easy to incorporate into your intimate routine.
Like we said before, anticipation is a huge part of sensory play. By slowly exploring your partner with different erotic textures, the wind-up part of the foreplay is extended, delaying the gratification of sex and other pleasure that comes later and thereby enhancing it.
Before you get started with sensory play, have a conversation with your partner about it and establish your boundaries. Safe words are commonly used for this, so even if you think you won’t need one, set one up just in case. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page before the fun begins.
Warming Up with Massage Candles
Wax play is a category of kink on its own, typically involving pouring warm, melted wax onto the skin for a slight burning sensation. This exists more commonly in the BDSM sphere, where the pain involved in hot wax (soy candles are safe for this) is a turn-on.
Massage candles are overall more sensory-friendly and also meant specifically for the skin, so they come with added skin-friendly benefits like shea butter, oils, and vitamins. Plus, what’s sexier than rubbing down your partner’s body with smooth oil?
The massage candle will burn at a lower temperature than typical wax, which makes it just warm enough to engage the senses and relax muscles without any burning. To use one for sensory play, dim the lights and let the glow of the candle set the scene. Light it and let the candle burn for 10-15 minutes until a pool of wax forms, then blow out the flame and wait a few seconds before testing the temperature with your fingertips.
Slowly pour the oil onto your partner’s skin and focus on zones like the back, shoulders, thighs, or lower abdomen. Use long, sensual strokes to work the oil into the skin, alternating between firm and delicate pressure, depending on how your partner likes it best.
Product Spotlight: LELO Flickering Touch Massage Candle
- Indulge in a luxuriously scented massage candle designed for body-safe pleasure. Made with nourishing oils that hydrate the skin, the LELO Flickering Touch massage candle melts into a warm elixir perfect for foreplay and full-body relaxation.
Exploring Seductive Chills with Metal Toys
Temperature play is an exhilarating way to awaken nerve endings and heighten every touch. The contrast of cool metal against warm skin, or a heated toy gliding over sensitive areas, creates an intense sensory experience that teases the body into deeper arousal. Whether you're new to sensation play or looking to elevate your pleasure, metal toys are the perfect addition to your erotic toolkit.
Metal toys have instant temperature control, so it naturally retains heat or cold and allows for an electrifying shift in sensation. The density also offers a deeply satisfying pressure against internal hotspots, and it’s body-safe and easy to clean, gliding with a touch of lubricant. These all make metal toys a great choice for temperature play and sensory play.
To use metal toys, place yours in the refrigerator (not the freezer!) for 10-15 minutes, then run it along your partner’s skin before teasing sensitive areas. For relaxation, dip your toy in warm (not hot) water for a few minutes, then glide it over the body for soothing, sensual massages that melt away tension and heighten arousal.
The firm weight of metal allows for slow, deliberate movements that press deeply into pleasure points, intensifying the sensation. So have fun, take your time, and explore the erotic temperatures.
Product Spotlight: The Pure Wand from njoy
- For an unforgettable sensory experience, the Pure Wand from njoy is a masterpiece of erotic engineering. Crafted from gleaming medical-grade stainless steel, its elegant curve provides a direct, effortless connection to the G-spot or P-spot. Weighing in at a satisfying 24 ounces, this luxurious tool offers deep, targeted pressure that makes every touch more intense.
Teasing with Restraints
There’s something undeniably erotic about surrendering control—or taking it. Restraints amplify sensation by limiting movement, making every touch, kiss, and whisper feel even more intense. By removing the ability to anticipate or react freely, the body becomes hyper-aware, turning even the lightest stroke into an electrifying tease. Whether you’re new to BDSM or just looking to add a little playful restraint, cuffs and blindfolds are the perfect starting point.
Restraints enhance pleasure by heightening sensitivity, deepening trust, and amplifying teasing and anticipation. With movement restricted, the focus shifts entirely to sensation, making even the softest caress feel exhilarating. Unable to see or control what happens next, every moment becomes an erotic surprise.
To explore these sensations, start with a blindfold to remove sight and then use soft touches to tease. Introduce wrist cuffs that are soft and adjustable, a safe yet secure way to restrain without discomfort. You can fasten them to something, or keep them loose. Once restrained, experiment on your partner with temperature play, impact play, or vibration. Build arousal slowly, it’s part of the fun.
Product Spotlight: PLUSH Seduction Cuff Kit & Blindfold by LIBERATOR
- Designed for both comfort and control, the soft microfiber cuffs of the PLUSH Seduction Cuff Kit & Blindfold cradle your wrists and ankles with the perfect balance of security and indulgence. Adjustable, versatile, and seductive, they fasten easily around bedposts or pair with Liberator bondage shapes like the Wedge or Wedge Ramp Combo.
Unleash Your Senses
Sensory play is an invitation—to slow down, explore, and immerse yourself in the depth of sensation. Whether you’re teasing with temperature, indulging in the seductive glow of massage oil, or surrendering to the exquisite restraint of cuffs and blindfolds, each touch becomes electric, every moment a thrilling mystery.
The beauty of sensory play lies in its endless possibilities. It’s about discovering what excites you, what makes your pulse race, and what sends shivers cascading down your spine. Whether you're just beginning to dip your toes into uncharted pleasures or looking to deepen your erotic connection, the right tools—silken restraints, cool metal, warm candle wax—open the door to a world of unparalleled ecstasy.
So go beyond the ordinary. Heighten every touch. Tease, tantalize, and explore the limitless landscape of pleasure that awaits.
