Nota bene: All products in this article are independently selected and vetted by InsideHook editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
By now, hopefully, you’ve familiarized yourself with a troubling social phenomenon called the pleasure gap (or at the very least, you have heard us talk about it.) For those unacquainted, it refers to the disparity between heterosexual cis-men and women when it comes to sexual satisfaction — and more specifically, their ability to reach climax. Study after study has revealed something most women already know: sex isn’t always pleasurable.
There are a few reasons for the gap. Part of it has to do with the lack of attention paid to the clitoris. We can thank the country’s abysmal sex education and the media/pornography for pushing the fallacy that women can orgasm from penetration alone. (According to the largest-ever orgasm study, 37% of American women required clitoral stimulation to experience orgasm, compared to the 18% of women who said that vaginal penetration alone was sufficient.)
I Tried 31 Different Sexual Wellness Products. Here’s What I Liked (And Didn’t Like).
One woman’s quest to test everything in her duffel bag full of sex stuffBut another factor is that, for many women, orgasming is as much a mental process as it is a physical one. Bringing in all that stress from the outside world — work, kids, body issues, etc. — into the bedroom impacts pleasurable sex. And since women are not orgasming as much as they’d like to, the pressure to have an orgasm often is, in itself, a barrier to achieving one.
So how do you make sure the lady in your life with whom you have sexual relations is having as pleasurable a time as you are in bed? The good news is that cunnilingus, fingering and, especially, vibrators are all relatively simple solutions, though they solve only one piece of the pleasure gap puzzle — what about the mental aspect?
Well, allow me to introduce you to a sexual wellness essential that just might transform both your sex lives for the better.
Foria’s Awaken Arousal Oil with CBD is a best-selling all-natural arousal oil and is one of the few sexual wellness products I swear by (next to the brand’s clean-feeling Intimacy Sex Oil — a lubricant that has triumphed all others). But if you don’t want take my word for it, you can take a stroll through the lengthy list of glowing 5-star reviews from other Awaken Arousal Oil stans.
So what does it do? Well, before we get into the magic that is Foria’s arousal oil, let’s have a refresher on what arousal products, in general, are designed to do.
Arousal oils, gels and sprays are not the same as personal lubricants, though they can also increase lubrication. Personal lubricant is commonly a water-based product (also silicone-based, oil-based or a hybrid of the two) that mimics the natural lubrication of the body that happens during sex. Arousal products, like Foria’s Awaken Arousal Oil, are more like an aphrodisiac to the flesh that helps get you in the mood, and they often work by increasing blood flow to the genital tissue, which can lead to enhanced sexual arousal, lubrication and ultimately orgasm. Studies have shown arousal products successfully increased sensitivity for women and made their intimate experience better.
Foria’s Awaken Oil, a unique formula blending broad-spectrum CBD and organic botanicals, does all that and then some. Once the topical oil is applied to her most sensitive areas (the clitoris, inner labia and inside the vagina), the CBD increases blood flow and sensitivity — an extremely important part of not only getting horny but riding out that wave of pleasure.
Beyond that, though, Foria’s distinctive CBD formula helps to relieve muscle tension and stress, meaning it could be a game-changer if your partner suffers from endometriosis, vaginismus or another pelvic or genital pain condition. It also can aid those experiencing vaginal dryness due to menopause. Overall, the Awaken Arousal Oil will allow her to remain present during sex all while heightening sensations for a bigger, stronger (and more frequent!) orgasm.
The 30mL tincture of arousal oil normally retails for $48 but is currently 25% off in honor of V-Day, so if you want to give the gift of better sex this holiday, now’s the time to do so. Just keep in mind a couple of things before you and your partner get all slicked up:
Since this product is oil-based, it cannot be used with latex or polyisoprene, so any condoms, diaphragms and toys you and your partner use have to be oil-safe materials. And as with any new product you’re about to rub onto your skin, be sure you or your partner do a patch test first and obviously avoid using if someone is allergic to any listed ingredients. Nothing kills a mood faster than somebody going into anaphylactic shock.
More Like This
We've put in the work researching, reviewing and rounding up all the shirts, jackets, shoes and accessories you'll need this season, whether it's for yourself or for gifting purposes. Sign up here for weekly style inspo direct to your inbox.