‘Sploshing’ bedroom trend explained as sitophilia grows in popularity for couples

Sexual fetishes often take on the weirdest forms, but one unconventional fixation has quickly gained traction, combining messy substances with sexual arousal.

Known as ‘sploshing’, the practice involves getting covered in food or other materials as part of an intimate experience.

What exactly is 'sploshing'?

Credit: Flashpop / Getty

While it might look familiar from television game shows where contestants are pied in the face or covered in slime, for some people, it has a much more sensual purpose.

The trend falls under the broader category of sitophilia, which describes sexual arousal associated with food, and has recently attracted attention as more people open up about incorporating edible treats and messy activities into their sex lives.

According to Ocado, more than a third of sexually active Brits incorporate food into their intimate moments, with sticky and creamy textures among the things some people enjoy exploring the most.

However, sploshing takes the idea further, focusing on the sensations and visual appeal of getting messy with substances such as honey, oil, foam and food playing a part in sex.

Depending on the people involved, it can be about sensory pleasure, sexual experimentation or humiliation, with the latter occasionally involving deliberately putting someone in a messy or embarrassing situation as part of a consensual sexual encounter.

Experts have their say

Credit: Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty

Sexologist Dr Jess O’Reilly explained that the practice can offer some people a way to rethink experiences they might otherwise associate with shame, claiming, "You can re-script experiences that are often laden in shame into experiences that produce pleasure.

"For some people [sploshing] can be highly erotic and for others, it can be a process of healing."

Ayesha Hussain, co-creator of Pass The Porn, discussed the appeal with Men's Health, pointing to the connection between the mouth, physical sensations and sexual arousal.

"There are aspects of the mouth being a vessel that are inherently sexual. It opens, it’s moist, and when you get aroused, your mouth opens more and gets more lubricated," she explained.

"It can be anything: spaghetti, cucumbers, chocolate, etc. Watch every movement, taste every smell, imagine their saliva accumulating, and go from there."

For those who enjoy sploshing, the appeal can therefore extend beyond the food itself. Textures, tastes, visual stimulation and the anticipation of getting messy can all contribute to the experience.

While humiliation is already an established part of some people's sexual interests, ranging from consensual name-calling to scenarios involving shaming, sploshing can coincide with these interests when being covered in food or another substance is part of the appeal.

Ultimately, whether you enjoy ‘vanilla’ sex or being soaked in vanilla ice cream during sex, there is no right or wrong way to be intimate.

Featured Image Credit: Flashpop / Getty