Explore Sensation Play With Arya: Introducing Sense & Sensuality
This article was written for Arya by Karolina Wilde
Karolina Wilde is the author of House of Pain, the first book in a seductive dark fantasy romance trilogy, a journalist, and a sex-positive freelance writer who worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. She has a serious obsession with chocolate (dark or milk, never white, and always with salted caramel), and when she's not writing another book or another client article, she can be found playing World of Warcraft or trying to conquer her never-ending TBR pile.
Have you heard of sensation play? Not sure? Have you ever tried blindfolding your partner during sex, or using ice cubes on their skin to make things more fun? If the answer is "yes" then you're already familiar with the concept.
Sensation play is an incredible way to explore the connection between sensory stimulation and pleasure. Something as small as closing your eyes while your partner touches you can take the whole experience to the next level.
Because of how simple yet effective sensation play is, we have created a whole Scene in the Arya journey that's dedicated to playing with different sensations with your partner so you can reach new heights of pleasure together.
Arya’s Guide to Sensation Play
What Is Sensation Play?
According to Kinkly, sensation play is "a wide variety of activities, both vanilla and kinky, that use the body's senses as a way to arouse and provide stimulation to a partner."
While the most basic form of sensation play is through skin stimulation techniques, you can indulge in sensory play in different forms:
Auditory stimulation (play different music or use earplugs to deprive auditory senses)
Visual play (blindfold and mirror play are your best friends here!)
Olfactory stimulation (scented candles, reed diffusers, and essential oils)
Taste exploration (trying different foods like chocolate, figs, and other aphrodisiacs)
Physical touch (warm and hot temperatures on the skin, exploring different textures and firmness)
Why Arya Decided To Dip Our Toes in Sensation Play
Here at Arya, we decided to tap into sensation play not just because it sounds fun, but because of the fantastic benefits it provides for our eroticism and pleasure experience.
First, sensation play is essential to help you connect with your body. "It is difficult to connect to your eroticism if you feel disconnected or confused with the body it is meant to inhabit," explains Nicholas Velotta, the Head of Relationship Science at Arya.
Sensory exploration teaches you how to feel everything that's happening in your body during intimate time with your partner by encouraging you to stay present in the moment and enjoy the sensations without judgment.
"[Sensation play] invites couples to indulge in sensual touch without worrying about sexual performance. And, with practice, sensation play can be the bridge to a nonjudgmental connection between the body and erotic pleasure," he explains further.
The connection between the body and your pleasure is not the only benefit of sensation play. It can also have a positive impact on your eroticism and overall relationship with sex.
"How we approach our eroticism is influenced by preconceived notions about what we think of as "good" or "bad" sex, our desire to be skilled lovers, and our understanding (or lack thereof) of how anatomy and touch translate to pleasure," Velotta explains.
Having a poor view of pleasure and sex can negatively impact the way you experience intimate touch. To unlock a whole new world of increased pleasure, it's important to cultivate a healthy relationship with your eroticism.
"Sensation play asks us to clear that queue of preconceived notions and, instead, to focus on fostering an open mindset towards eroticism," Velotta adds.
How To Explore Sensation Play at Home
Sensation play is one of the easiest ways to introduce something new in your relationship to reignite the spark. You don't need to buy specific tools and can start exploring with things you can find around your house.
Here are five ways you can explore sensation play at home:
Scented candle: the next time you decide to have some intimate time with your partner, light a scented candle ten minutes beforehand so that the room fills up with a pleasant aroma to engage your senses. Better yet, take your partner to your local Bed Bath & Beyond and pick a candle that you both like. Buying a sex candle should definitely be on your "date night ideas" list!
Sensory deprivation: you can play with this in two different ways – with a blindfold and with noise-canceling headphones (or earplugs if you have them at hand). Use an old, soft t-shirt to cover your partner's eyes during intimate play, or let them wear earplugs so they can't hear anything and can only watch you. Depriving your partner of one of their senses enhances the others, which can be a thrilling experience.
Food for the soul: another way to engage your senses during intimate time is to engage your taste buds. And there are easy ways to do it at home. Get whipped cream, chocolate, strawberries, figs, popping candy, and anything else that you both enjoy the taste of. Feed each other the fruit, kiss with popping candy in your mouth, and lick whipped cream off each other's bodies to engage your taste buds and unlock new sensations.
Temperature play: get some ice cubes and drag them on your partner's skin to experiment with temperature play. Warm up a metal spoon in hot water (be careful not to burn yourself!) and hold it against your partner's skin to add a different kind of temperature sensation.
Use your fingers: lastly, play around with the different sensations your fingers and hands can create on your partner's skin. Gently drag your fingertips over your partner's skin, add a bit of pressure, lightly pinch them, tap, slap, and rub the skin. There are many things your fingers can do, so use them!
Try Arya: Sense & Sensuality
Trying something new for the first time can be overwhelming, we get it! It's also time-consuming to do your research and figure out how to do what and in which order. That's where Arya comes into play.
Arya's Sense & Sensuality is a Scene that's designed to introduce you to sensation play no matter your experience level. As you go through the Scene, we will provide you with everything you need:
Inspiration: you'll receive a selection of curated fantasy stories that showcase different ways to explore sensation play with your partner.
Products: we hand-selected three products that will allow you to explore sensation play in numerous different ways.
Guidance: no need to wonder what you should or shouldn't do – we provide you with all the tips, tricks, and instructions you might need to create an unforgettable night with your partner.
With Sense & Sensuality, you get to experience all the best that sensation play has to offer without unnecessary stress or worries. Just set a date that works for you and your partner, wait for your box to arrive, and explore.
It’s your time to play.
Sign up for Arya and explore the world of sensation with your partner.
About Arya
Life is so grown up and you two deserve some play time. Insert your new bestie Arya — a monthly subscription to reignite the spark, try new sexual experiences, and grow closer with your partner. Don't hold back your fantasies! You'll get access to a personal relationship concierge, expertly guided activities tailored to your deepest desires and a curated box of goodies delivered discreetly to your door.
