Most people come to lubricant for practical reasons - comfort, ease, better sex. All completely valid. But once you've got the basics sorted, there's a whole other side to lube that's less about practicality and more about adding something genuinely fun to the mix. Flavoured lubricants and stimulating sensation lubes sit firmly in that category - and they're worth knowing about.
Stimulating Lubes: Warming, Cooling and Tingling
Stimulating lubricants add a layer of sensation that standard lube simply doesn't. Warming formulas use tiny amounts of capsaicin to generate gentle heat. Cooling lubes use mint or menthol for a refreshing contrast. Tingling formulas do exactly what they sound like. Some do more than one thing at once - feeling perfectly neutral until breathed on, then producing a slow warmth that travels in rather pleasing directions.
One thing worth knowing: these aren't just for the obvious places. Stimulating lubes work beautifully as part of foreplay - applied along the inner thighs, collarbone, stomach, or wherever feels interesting. They're one of the more quietly versatile things in the bedroom kit.
If you have sensitive skin, starting with a small amount is always wise - your body will tell you quickly whether it's enjoying the sensation or finding it a little much. Browse our stimulating lubricant range here.
Flavoured Lubes: Because Oral Sex Should Taste Good
Flavoured lubricants are straightforwardly fun. They're designed for oral sex and foreplay, turning the experience into something a little more playful and a lot more enjoyable for everyone involved. Watermelon, cherry, strawberry, chocolate - the range is broader than most people expect, and the better-quality options actually taste good rather than faintly synthetic.
They're also particularly useful if you use latex condoms - a flavoured lube applied afterwards deals very effectively with the chemical aftertaste some condoms leave. Simple, practical, and considerably more enjoyable than the alternative.
One thing worth keeping in mind: flavoured lubricants often contain sugar or glycerin, which means they're best kept to oral sex and external use rather than internal use, as sugar can disrupt your body's natural balance. If you're prone to yeast infections, it's worth checking the ingredient list before buying. Browse our flavoured lubricant range here.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Both flavoured and stimulating lubricants are almost always water-based, which makes them safe to use with silicone toys and easy to clean up. If you're combining either with a partner who has particularly sensitive skin, starting gently and checking in is always a good idea - sensation lubes in particular vary quite significantly in intensity between products.
If you'd like to explore the full range of lubricant types, the Lubricant Hub covers everything clearly. Or if you already know what you're looking for, browse our full lubricant range here.
