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Using a sex toy is a sensual experience so what it’s made from is as important as the toy itself.
The material affects how your sex toy feels, smells and tastes, which lubricant you can use with it for enhanced pleasure, and how best to care for it.
The materials used for vibrators, dildos, dongs, butt plugs and many other sex toys can be categorised as either porous or non-porous.
Porous materials are usually soft and can be difficult to clean so it’s best to use them with a condom if possible. Porous sex toy materials can also contain phthalates, which are used to make plastics flexible but have been phased out by some manufacturers for various reasons.
Non-porous materials are generally higher quality and easier to clean, making them a safer option. Examples include ABS plastic, borosilicate glass, metal and high-grade silicone.
Sex toys made from ABS plastic are usually smooth, hard and glossy and transmit vibrations easily for more intense sensations.
Feel: Smooth, hard and glossy; can have a rubber-based or polyurethane coating that creates a velvet touch.
Smell: Odourless
Taste: Tasteless
Compatible lubricant: All lubricants
Advantages: Non-porous; easy to clean; transmits vibrations easily; phthalate-free; latex-free; can be waterproof
Disadvantages: Sensations from vibrating ABS plastic toys can be too intense for some people; unsuitable if seeking toys that flex with your body
Glass dildos, dongs, wands, butt plugs and other sex toys are usually made from borosilicate (also known as the brand Pyrex) or soda lime in ornate designs. Glass sex toys feel smooth and rigid and are highly versatile, delivering different sensations if warmed or cooled in water.
Feel: Smooth and rigid
Smell: Odourless
Taste: Tasteless
Compatible lubricant: All lubricants
Advantages: Non-porous; phthalate-free; latex-free; suitable for people with sensitive skin; waterproof; easy to clean; durable with proper care; ideal for temperature play (avoid extreme heat and cold); chip-resistant and shatterproof
Disadvantages: Can be too heavy for some people; unsuitable if seeking toys that flex with your body
Jelly rubber is one of the most popular sex toy materials because of its affordability, bright colour options and softness.
Feel: Smooth, rubbery and flexible
Smell: Very rubbery
Taste: Slightly chemical
Compatible lubricant: All lubricants
Advantages: Inexpensive; flexes with your body; can be waterproof
Disadvantages: Porous; difficult to clean; jelly rubber toys should be used with a condom where possible; may contain phthalates; unsuitable for people with a latex allergy; each jelly toy must be stored without touching another toy to avoid deterioration over time
Latex is a smooth and versatile type of rubber that is often used to make inflatable sex toys, fetish wear and sexy lingerie because of its incredible flexibility.
Feel: Smooth, rubbery and flexible
Smell: Slightly rubbery
Taste: Slightly rubbery
Compatible lubricant: All lubricants
Advantages: Durable; phthalate-free; flexes with your body; can be waterproof
Disadvantages: Porous; difficult to clean; latex toys should be used with a condom where possible; unsuitable for people with a latex allergy; each latex toy must be stored without touching another toy to deterioration over time
Metals, such as stainless steel, aluminium, silver and gold are most commonly used to make butt plugs and wands, and can feature as beautiful accents on vibrators and other sex toys.
Feel: Smooth and rigid; weight ranges from light (aluminium) to heavy (stainless steel)
Smell: Odourless
Taste: Tasteless
Compatible lubricant: All lubricants
Advantages: Non-porous; waterproof; easy to clean; durable with proper care; phthalate-free; latex-free; can be used for temperature play (avoid extreme heat and cold)
Disadvantages: Unsuitable if seeking toys that flex with your body; can contain nickel which some people are sensitive to; can be too heavy for beginners depending on the metal and design
PVC is a versatile and affordable plastic commonly used in many types of sex toys including vibrators, dildos, butt plugs and cock rings. PVC can be hard or, if blended with rubber or silicone for example, feel softer and more lifelike.
Feel: Ranges from hard and smooth to soft and more lifelike depending on composition
Smell: Plastic
Taste: Plastic
Compatible lubricant: All lubricants
Advantages: Affordable; durable with proper care
Disadvantages: Can be porous, difficult to clean and contain phthalates (especially soft rather than hard PVC); PVC toys should be used with a condom if possible; each PVC toy must be stored without touching another toy to avoid deterioration over time
Realistic feel is a broad term for sex toy materials designed to look and feel lifelike and is typically used for dildos, dongs, masturbators and sex dolls. Examples of realistic materials include CyberSkin, Fanta Flesh, Futurotic, Ultra Realistic 3.0 or UR3, CyberSkin, Pure Skin, SuperSkin, Real Feel, UltraSkyn and Loveclone RX – these branded materials are essentially elastomer-based product with slightly different compositions.
Feel: Soft, smooth, flexible and lifelike
Smell: Very rubbery
Taste: Rubbery
Compatible lubricant: Water-based lubricant only
Advantages: Warms quickly; incredibly lifelike look and feels
Disadvantages: Porous; difficult to clean and requires extra care – thoroughly dry then dust with cornstarch or similar toy powder before storing; realistic feel toys should be used with a condom if possible; can contain latex or phthalates; very sensitive and can discolour and tear easily; cannot be used with silicone-based lubricant; each realistic feel toy must be stored without touching another toy to avoid deterioration over time
Silicone is the ideal sex toy material because it is non-porous, easy to clean, flexible yet durable and easily transmits vibrations. Silicone toys vary in density from soft to firm depending on the composition while remaining silky smooth.
Although silicone tends to be used for premium sex toys, this material does vary in quality and some sex toys purportedly made from silicone may contain fillers and be somewhat porous. Always choose silicone sex toys from trusted brands.
Feel: Silky smooth; density varies from soft to firm
Smell: Odourless
Taste: Tasteless
Compatible lubricant: Water-based only
Advantages: Non-porous; phthalate-free; latex-free; easy to clean; transmits vibrations easily; warms quickly and retains heat well ; durable with proper care; can be waterproof; can flex with your body depending on the toy design; medical-grade and other high-grade formulations are ideal for people with sensitive skin
Disadvantages: Cannot be used with silicone-based lubricant
Designed to mimic actual skin, TPE and TPR are flexible plastics made from a PVC and silicone blend that can be less porous than other realistic feel sex toy materials. TPE is firmer than TPR.
Feel: Smooth, flexible and lifelike; varies from soft to firm depending on composition; can feel sticky/tacky
Smell: Similar to nail polish
Taste: Rubbery
Compatible lubricant: Water-based lubricant
Advantages: Less porous than other realistic feel sex toy materials; phthalate-free; latex-free; durable with proper care
Disadvantages: Somewhat porous; difficult to clean; can be sensitive and discolour and tear easily; can flex with your body depending on the toy design; TPR/TPE plastic toys should be used with a condom if possible; each TPR/TPE plastic toy must be stored without touching another toy to deterioration over time