Usually thought of as a “more gentle play type”, in reality sensory play can be as soft or as hard as their players want. This kind of play focuses on bodily sensations. Sensory refers to “senses”, as in the 5 senses; sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Meaning that this specific play focuses on altering how players perceive things, either by increasing, decreasing, or incorporating new sensations. Usually involve deprivation [blindfolds] or overloading [tickle or temperature] through previously planned activities. The end goal it’s stimulating and manipulating the senses to evoke intense physical and psychological responses through the deliberate use of various stimuli, such as temperature, texture, pressure, and more, to heighten sensations and create a range of pleasurable or provocative experiences.

This type of play can not only increase bodily arousal, but also improve erotism and open the door to altered states of consciousness just by allowing the exploration of different stimuli and playing with the body's responses. Some people consider sensory play as the door to a new sensual and erotic consciousness, given that it incorporates the most basic elements of the erotic and sexual -regardless of each person’s “how hard you want it” tastes- senses are sexual. Sensory play can involve “soft” play like mapping the body with a feather or as “hard” as tenderizing the skin with a paddle. These delights are often combined with other elements of BDSMK such as Bondage or Role Play to enhance the experience.

Imagination it’s the limit for sensory play, from kitchen utensils [like forks, wooden spoons, dishwashing sponge, etc] to more “professional” instruments like Wartenberg wheel or nipple clamps, a multitude of items can cause unique sensations when in the hands of a skilled player.

Sensory play has 2 sub-divisions: