All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through links in this article.
(Spanking, anyone?)
Lena Mirisola
“A fetish is typically referred to as behavior that someone cannot get sexually aroused without.
If someone has a bondagefetish, their entire sexuality may revolve around restraint.
(There’s also the category of turn-ons: things that simply arouse a person.)
Getty Images
BDSM is kinky, but not all kinks fall under the BDSM umbrella.
In such an instance, the scenario would involve role-play, impact play, and even age play.
Remember, we’re trying todismantle sexual shame.
Getty Images
Ready to dive in?
Here’s a list of some of themost common fetishesand what they entail.
Impact play can range from a light slap on the bum to a crack of the whip.
As with any kink or fetish, it’s important to negotiate boundaries beforehand.
“Safety and comfort are the most important aspects of kink,” says Renye.
Do your homework before practicing impact play.
Role-Playing
You don’t have to stop playing make-believe when you grow up.
Foot Fetish
Afoot fetishinvolves a desire to worship feet through acts such as massage, kissing, and smelling.
As professional dominatrix Goddess Aviva previouslytoldAllure, it’s an extremely common fetish.
While anal sex can be safe and wonderful, there is some prep work involved.
That includes safer sex precautions such ascondom use.
Group Sex
Group sex is getting it on with more than one person.
As with all of the activities here, anyone can engage in orgasm control regardless of their genitalia.
Bondage
Bondage is when one partner restrains the other.
Psychological Play
Some of the most intense sexual play takes place in the mind.
Renye refers to psychological power play a bang out of BDSM as “mind control.”
The flip side of voyeurism is exhibitionism, which means achieving sexual pleasure by allowing others to watch you.
It’s the sexual enjoyment of showing off.
Cuckolding
You may have heard the term “cuck” thrown around as an alt-right slur.
It’s unfortunate since cuckolding is a common kink that anyone can enjoy.
It’s often a form of erotic humiliation.
The female version of a cuck is known as a cuckquean.
However, all genders can enjoy being the cuck, the hotwife, and the bull.
Erotic Humiliation
Erotic humiliation lets you reclaim embarrassment by getting off on it.
“Humiliation play is a consensual power exchange that is a very typical fetish.
It can help people heal parts of the self that may have been bullied as a child.
There’s a sense of mastery over something that may have previously been non-consensual,” says Renye.
Spectrophilia
Spectrophilia refers to having a thing for ghosts because sometimes humans aren’t worth it.
Autonepiophilia
Autonepiophilia means adult babies.
Urophilia
Urophilia is a fancy name for piss play, golden showers, and watersports.
Often during piss play, there is a degree of domination and submission.
Others integrate the kink into their romantic relationships.
Sadism & Masochism
Sadism refers to a person, a sadist, who gets off on inflicting pain.
Their necessary counterpart is masochists, those who get off on receiving erotic pain.
As always, S&M relationships require consent from all parties involved.
Wax play
Wax play involves dripping hot candle wax on your lover.
Not only can wax play be extremely hot (sorry) but it involves the use of romantic lighting.
“Wax play is therapeutic for me,” says sex educatorErin Kennedy.
“Being kinky with fibromyalgia means I’m always seeking sensations that soothe.”
Vorarephilia
Vorarephilia is the infamous cannibal kink.
Of course, literally killing and eating someone is wrong.
The only safe and consensual way to try paraphilia is to (consensually!)
add it to your dirty talk.
Pregnancy
Yes, pregnancy can be the result of sex, but it can also turn people on.
“The former is one with an element of riskiness.
There’s a permanent potential to be forever with the consequences of unprotected heterosexual intercourse,” says Renye.
And yes, it’s okay to find it arousing.
Dont worry, you dont need an actual octopus to enjoy tentacle play.
There are lovely sex toy companies, such asBad Dragon, who make body-safe silicone tentacle dildos for you.
If a lover has ever called you “baby,” you’ve engaged in age play.
“Age play is not pedophilia,” reminds Renye.
“It is consensual play.
If someone is attracted to children, that is not age play.”
“Stranger play is one of my favorites!
Emetophilia
Gag warning: Emetophilia is a sexual fetish in which one gets aroused by vomit.
Yes, it’s real, and its more common than you think.
A higher octave version is simply getting wet for puke.
Klismaphilia
Klismaphilia is arousal from enemas.
However, others find enemas themselves arousing.
Electrostimulation
According to Richmond, electrostimulation is a pretty common kink.
It tends to be part of a bigger D/S dynamic.
Remember, regardless of your fetish or kink, consent is paramount.
“Kinks and fetishes are fertile grounds for misunderstandings if consent is not explicit,” explains Renye.
*Name has been changed.
Sophie Saint Thomas is an award-winning sex journalist and Allure’s resident astrologer.
