New Sex Toy Smell

A Visitor Asks...

"I bought a sex toy recently but it smells funny. What is that unusual smell and what can I do to get rid of it?"

This is a very common question. Some new toys, particularly those made of jelly, can have an unusual smell when new. Other materials like latex, any of the realistic materials, and plastic can also have an unusual odor. The good news is you aren't dreaming - that smell does exist! The bad news is that its annoying, and that some chemicals can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to minimize the odor and prevent exposure to phthalates, the chemical that causes it.

Where does it come from?

Many adult products are made from PVC, a common plastic that is hard and inflexible in its raw form. However, if you add a few chemicals known as phthalates, PVC becomes soft and flexible - a consistency perfect for sex toys. Unfortunately, the downside to phthalates is that they give off a bit of a smell. The smell differs from toy to toy and can range anywhere from strong and pungent to mild and barely noticeable. The smell itself, in case you haven't experienced it before, could be described as similar to the odor of nail polish. It's not nearly as pungent and overpowering as nail polish is, but the smell is similar.

By far the most common material that produces a smell is jelly, and a distant second is latex. We receive a fair number of questions about this "new sex toy smell" and we wanted to address it. First, let us say that the smell is common. It won't last forever, and in fact it probably won't last very long.

What can be done about it?

The quickest way to eliminate the smell is to wash the item thoroughly and let it breathe. Take it out of the wrapper, wash it well and then place it where it can get plenty of air. The more circulation the better. Placing it by an open window, for example, would be ideal. Placing your new toy in a dresser drawer under your socks would not be ideal. It's not mandatory, but the more air your new toy gets the quicker the smell will dissipate.

Also, and we can't emphasize this strongly enough, it is a great idea to wash your new sex toy with adult toy cleaner as soon as you take it out of the box. Many toys, especially those made of jelly, Cyberskin, NewSkin, and Ultraskin come directly out of the box with a powdery or greasy residue. Sometimes the manufacturer coats a toy with a protective residue, and sometimes a residue is part of the natural "bleeding" process that happens with toys made of latex or jelly. Adult toy cleaner or a mild soap is the best way to remove the residue, give your new sex toy a fresher scent, and keep it looking and feeling like new. Unlike harsh soaps and detergents, adult toy cleaner is safe for all toys. We never recommend using dish soap. A mild product like Dove or baby shampoo is best, if absolutely necessary.

Important Recommendation

We recommend using condoms with jelly toys to reduce the risk of potential physical side effects of phthalate exposure. As far as we know there aren't any incidents of injury attributed to phthalates or to phthalate exposure from sex toys, but some research has suggested that it might be wise to reduce your long-term exposure. So, if you choose a jelly toy, use a condom!

In conclusion, we wanted to let you know that we're familiar with the "new sex toy small", and that it's not something that will likely continue to cause you discomfort. The smell is common and will decrease dramatically over the next week or so if you follow the preceding steps. Eventually, it will only be a memory.

As always, we hope this information has helped you. If you still have questions please feel free to email us at questions@mybodyvibes.com.

Ask us! We'd love to hear from you. If you're curious about something but haven't gotten around to looking it up - ask us. We would be glad to help. Questions about adult toys, sex toys, sex or relationships can be sent to readersask@mybodyvibes.com. Who knows, we might post your answer!