Sensation play

Sensation play, also known as sensual play or sensory play, is an act where senses are engaged in various ways to heighten erotic pleasure and induce sensuality. As an activity, it is meant to impart pleasurable and arousing sensations upon a partner, usually during an intimate interaction.[2]

Feather tickling can intensify a sexual feeling.[1]

As opposed to mental forms of erotic play such as power exchange or sexual roleplaying, a sensual play is generally pleasing and light, that deliberately engages the five senses to explore pleasure, thereby leading to intense sexual arousal or orgasm.[3]

Sensory play can be an umbrella term, with the harsher "pain play" and gentler "general sensory play" being subtypes, where an individual may prefer one or the other.[3]

Types

General sensory play
Neck licking is a form of light sensual play.

Many couples that would not consider themselves active in BDSM are familiar with sensual play: the use of silk scarves, feathers, blindfolding, tickling, erotic music, ice, massage oils, soft spanking, and other similar implements. The sensation can come from just about anywhere, provided that the implement falls within the negotiated terms of the interaction or relationship. Sensation play is meant to give arousing sensations to a partner's body. It is limited only by one's own imagination and a lot of variation can occur from one play scene to the next.[3]

Unlike BDSM, sensual play is soft and, according to Dr Celina Criss, "Pain never needs to be involved in sensual sensory play...Think gentle touches, delicious flavors, delightful scents, different kinds of light, and beautiful soundtracks. The clothes we wear and the settings we create can be a big part of this sort of play."[3] Other examples in sensual play include hand holding, talking dirty, a person's fingers running through their hair, and as well as the partner's scent, which can emphasize sexual arousal.[4]

BDSM

Sensation play in BDSM can also involve sadomasochistic play or "pain play", involving the application of carefully controlled stimuli to the human body so that it reacts as if it were actually hurt. While this can involve the infliction of actual pain, it is usually done in order to release pleasurable endorphins, creating a sensation somewhat like runner's high or the afterglow of orgasm. In BDSM play, the top (or dominant) introduces and controls the sensation to the bottom (or submissive).[5]

Note that safety and consent are of paramount importance in the practice of more intense forms of sensation play. People engaging in such activities should adhere to the principles of "safe, sane and consensual" or of "risk-aware consensual kink".

Examples
A woman tickled sensually (1869)
Nipple biting (1799)

Sensual play acts range from light to gentle, such as:

To more pain-inducing or hazardous interactions:

Media

The Motion Picture Association film rating system uses the descriptor "sensuality" for films that exhibit some erotically suggestive images or scenes.[10][11] The usage of "sensuality" has been met with some criticism because audiences confuse it with "sexuality", another common descriptor in movie ratings.[12]

See also

References
  1. Power your foreplay Monika Rawal from India Times.
  2. 8 ways to increase sensual play in the bedroom By Jenni Holdsworth from Independent Online. South Africa. September 11, 2018. Retrieved 8 June, 2023.
  3. A beginner's guide to sensation play By Gigi Engle on Mashable.
  4. What Is Sensation Play? By O.school.
  5. Weiss, Margot (2012-12-02). Techniques of Pleasure. Duke University Press. ISBN 9780822394914.
  6. SENSUAL TOUCH: THE CORNERSTONE OF A GREAT SEX LIFE. by The Hart Centre.
  7. Are ear orgasms real, and how can people stimulate the ears? Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST — By Carolyn Farnsworth. Medical News Today. Retrieved 7 June, 2023.
  8. Love in the Tub by Cosmopolitan
  9. The Truth About Why Neck Kisses Feel So Effing Good by Candice Jalili from Cosmopolitan
  10. WHAT THE MOVIE RATINGS MEAN TheTVBOSS.org. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  11. The movie ratings, by definition by David Crumpler from Jacksonville.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  12. What's Wrong with the MPAA? by Laremy Legel from Mtv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
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