13 Sexual Fetishes & Kinks You Didn't Know About

While some sexual fetishes are widely known or talked about, there are countless others you may have never even heard of. Maybe you have a turn-on that feels unusual or taboo—chances are, it’s more common than you think. Human sexuality is incredibly diverse, and what excites one person might surprise another.

In fact, a study published in The Journal of Sex Research found that nearly half of participants (45.6%) said they were interested in at least one type of “non-traditional” sexual behavior, and a third (33%) reported actually engaging in one of those behaviors at least once. So if you’ve ever wondered whether your desires are “normal,” the answer is: probably yes!

Read on to explore 13 different kinks and fetishes, ranging from playful to extreme. You might even discover something you’d like to try for yourself!

Kink vs. Fetish: What's the Difference

The terms “kink” and “fetish” often get used interchangeably, but they aren’t quite the same:

• Kink is a broad term for any non-traditional sexual interest or practice that goes beyond “vanilla” sex—think roleplay, spanking, bondage, or dirty talk. A kink adds excitement but isn’t usually required for arousal every time.

• Fetish is more specific. It’s when sexual gratification becomes strongly tied to a particular object, body part, or act—even if it’s not inherently sexual, like shoes, latex, or feet. For someone with a fetish, that element may feel necessary for sexual satisfaction.

So while all fetishes are considered kinks, not all kinks rise to the level of a fetish. For example: enjoying being blindfolded can be a kink, but needing to be blindfolded every time to feel turned on could become a fetish.

Are you familiar with any of these surprising kinks and fetishes?

1. Partialism

This is a fixation on a specific body part—feet, hair, breasts, butts, or even less-obvious areas. The most well-known form is podophilia (foot fetish), but partialism can involve everything from belly buttons (alvinophilia) to armpits (maschalagnia).

2. Sploshing

Also known as WAM (“wet and messy”), sploshing involves covering yourself or a partner with messy substances—often food. Think cakes, custard, chocolate syrup, or whipped cream smeared over the body. Some enjoy the sensation while clothed, others prefer to get completely naked and messy.

3. Feederism

In this dynamic, feeders become aroused by encouraging their partners to eat or gain weight, while feedees become turned on by being fed. Feeding play might involve controlling when or what a partner eats, incorporating a gag, or turning food into foreplay. Use a bondage gag and explore sensory feeding play.

4. Nylon Fetish

A nylon stocking fetish is a sexual desire connected to wearing nylons or pantyhose, or seeing someone else wear them. For some people, pleasure is derived from the feeling of putting them on or peeling them off, or seeing their partner wearing stockings during sexual activity. Others may enjoy the sight and sound of nylons getting ripped or torn, or seeing them get wet or dirty.

5. Klismaphilia

This term describes a fetish where someone is turned on by the use of enemas. Some people experience pleasure from the pressurized feeling they experience while using an enema, while others are aroused by the preparations, such as the feel and smell of latex or rubber. It often overlaps with medical fetish play.

6. Formicophilia

Yes, this one involves bugs. Formicophiliacs are aroused by being crawled on or nibbled at by insects—ants, snails, even bees. While extreme and less common, it’s an example of how varied human sexuality can be.

7. Olfactophilia

This is arousal from scents, especially natural body odors like sweat or musk. It can also extend to breath, urine, or even flatulence. Partners with this kink may enjoy smelling worn clothing, sweaty gym gear, or underwear.

8. Dendrophilia

Sexual attraction to trees. Some people are turned on simply by touching or standing near trees, while others may use the natural textures, bulges, or openings as part of their play.

9. Katoptronophilia

If you love mirrors, this one’s for you. People with this kink enjoy watching themselves or their partners during sex—masturbating in front of a mirror, setting one up beside the bed, or simply incorporating reflection into play.

10. Urophilia

Also called “water sports” or “golden showers,” this fetish involves sexual arousal from urination—either giving, receiving, or both. For some, it’s about taboo or humiliation; for others, it represents intimacy and trust.

11. Coprophilia

Similar to urophilia, coprophilia involves arousal from feces. Though rare and highly taboo, it’s another example of how fetishes can develop around bodily functions.

12. Mechanophilia

Attraction to machines, such as cars, motorcycles, or bikes. People with this fetish may stroke, straddle, or even use parts of a machine to stimulate themselves. In some cases, the sight or sound of the machine itself is arousing.

13. Autoplushophilia

Related to the furry community, this fetish is about sexual arousal from dressing up as a giant plush or cartoon-like animal character. While being a furry is not inherently sexual, some take it further into sexual expression, sometimes called “yiffing.”

Top Products For Kinky Couples

1. Under The Bed Bondage Restraint System

These versatile Under The Bed Bondage Restraints are great for bondage sex and combining with other forms of kink and fetish play. Secure the tethers under your mattress to quickly and easily restrain your partner's wrists and ankles into any position!

2. Leather Studded BDSM Gag

This Open Mouth Gag has an attached stopper plug that lets you choose to keep your partner's mouth open or insert the plug into the tunnel to muffle them. Act out feeding fantasies or pair with other leather fetish gear or bondage accessories!

3. Strawberry Flavored Water Based Lube

Whether you're indulging a foot fetish or caressing your partner's body while they are cuffed and blindfolded, this Flavored Water-Based Kissable Passion Lube has a delicious strawberry flavor to enhance any type of play! The lightweight lickable gel has a water-based formula that is non-staining and safe to use with your favorite sex toys!

Before we finish this up we wanted to leave you with a few tips because we know that it can be scary leaning into a fetish you might be exploring for the first time, but you really should be excited. We are sexual beings and it's healthy to explore what turns you on. Below are 5 tips that should help you out:

Read More

Keep learning with other articles and guides written by our sex experts:

• Everything You Need To Know About Bondage/BDSM
• Ultimate Beginner's Guide To Pleasurable Restraint Play
• 21 Top Roleplaying Ideas
  

Sources

The Journal of Sex Research. 2017. The Prevalence of Paraphilic Interests and Behaviors in the General Population: A Provincial Survey. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224499.2016.1139034?journalCode=hjsr20. [Accessed October 2021]

The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2018. Deviance or Normalcy? The Relationship Among Paraphilic Thoughts and Behaviors, Hypersexuality, and Psychopathology in a Sample of University Students. https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(18)31100-7/fulltext. [Accessed October 2021]

Medical Journal, Armed Forces India. 2019. Sexuality in the 21st century: Leather or rubber? Fetishism explained. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6495465. [Accessed October 2021]

Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2019. The “Furry” Phenomenon: Characterizing Sexual Orientation, Sexual Motivation, and Erotic Target Identity Inversions in Male Furries. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30806867. [Accessed October 2021]

The Journal of Sex Research. 2020. Narratives of the Origins of Kinky Sexual Desire Held by Users of a Kink-Oriented Social Networking Website. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2020.1840495. [Accessed October 2021]

International Journal of Impotence Research. 2007. Relative Prevalence of Different Fetishes. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901547. [Accessed October 2021]

The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2013. Psychological Characteristics of BDSM Practitioners. https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)30447-1/fulltext. [Accessed October 2021]

What Other Fetishes Turn You On? Leave A Comment Below!