Sex toys

Your first sex toy? Let’s be honest, it can feel daunting. So many models, so many promises, and that nagging worry about choosing the wrong thing when it’s so personal. Here are the two questions we really recommend thinking about. The rest is detail.

What kind of stimulation are you looking for?

This is THE question. Everything starts here.
Looking for external clitoral stimulation? Try a pulsating-air model, or a small vibrating bullet if you want to keep it simple. More interested in internal, vaginal stimulation? Try a G-spot vibro or a vibrating dildo. And if you want both at once (yes, it’s possible, and yes, it’s brilliant), that’s what rabbits are for.

For men, it’s the same idea. A masturbator for the penis. A plug or prostate stimulator for the prostate (an area that’s overlooked far too often). A vibrating ring if you want to combine both during sex.
A little bonus piece of advice that’s often overlooked: noise level. 27% of our customers name it as their top criterion, even ahead of price. Fair enough. If you live in a shared flat, with your parents or in a flat with thin walls (Paris, we’re looking at you), look for ‘ultra-quiet’ on the product description.

How much should you budget for a quality sex toy?

Under €40, you can already find perfectly decent starter options, though nothing more. The materials are sometimes less premium, and there may be fewer modes. But the Plug Easy Rider at €19.90 or the Rabbit Clark at €49.90 still make excellent first experiences. You don’t have to break the bank to explore.
The €70–€130 range is where things really step up. It’s the heart of the market. All our bestsellers fall in this bracket: Womanizer Premium 2, Sienna stimulator, Bali by Hyyo, Lush 4. Medical-grade silicone, a quiet motor and an extended manufacturer’s warranty. You’re paying for reliability, not marketing.

Above €150, you’re in premium territory. Lelo Sona 3 Cruise, Womanizer Next. Award-winning designs, exclusive materials, patented technologies. Are they essential? No. Do they change the experience? Honestly, yes, especially over the long term.
One last thing. If you really can’t decide, try our personalised quiz. Five minutes, a few questions, and we’ll point you towards the right model. Not the most expensive one. The one for you.

What different types of sex toys are available?

We’ve already covered the main categories. But the sex toy market also has more specialised options for particular desires. Here’s a quick look at some of the ones we like to highlight at Passage du Désir.

• Pulsating-air sex toys. The big revolution came in 2014, when Womanizer launched its first Pleasure Air. The idea? No direct contact with the skin. Just pressure waves that create gentle suction, like a kiss without friction. If you tend to find vibrations too intense or you’re especially sensitive, this is probably your best place to start.

• Connected sex toys. Smartphone apps, experiences synced to video or music, long-distance control. We’ll come back to these in more detail below, but this is the category that’s boomed since 2020.

• Glass sex toys. Underrated. Borosilicate glass, ultra-smooth and 100% hypoallergenic. Above all, they let you play with temperature in a way most people never think of (put one in warm water or a glass of iced water for a few minutes, then try it). They’re also just about the only ones you could leave on display.

• Biodegradable sex toys. The Womanizer Premium Eco led the way. They’re still rare on the market, but growing in number. If you want to combine pleasure with environmental awareness, they’re a credible option.

• G-spot sex toys. Their distinctive curved shape reaches this internal area on the front wall of the vagina, about 5 to 7 cm from the entrance. Pinpoint precision, deep sensation.

• Discreet sex toys. A lookalike lipstick, a piece of jewellery, a massage pebble. No one will guess. Ideal for travel, or simply if you share a bathroom with a curious flatmate.

Are sex toys suitable for couples?

Yes. In fact, it’s become the most common way to use them in France.
For a long time, people thought sex toys were just for single people. Not true. The 2021 IFOP study conducted for Passage du Désir confirms it in black and white: 59% of users use their toys just as much alone as with a partner. A majority, then.
And the interesting thing is, it works. 62% of users say their sex toy contributes to their relationship’s sexual intimate essentials. Our Valentine’s Day 2025 study goes even further. For what we call ‘Chill’ couples (almost half of French people), toys offer a way to explore sex without pressure to perform. More closeness, less stress, fewer expectations. It’s the exact opposite of the cliché.
The real question is: how do you bring it up with your partner without feeling awkward? The answer comes down to two words. Communication. Understanding.

In practical terms: don’t bring it up just after sex hasn’t gone well or, worse, in the middle of an argument. The timing will undermine the message. Pick a relaxed moment, a laid-back dinner or a weekend. Present the toy as something to explore together, never as an implied criticism. It’s not ‘you can’t manage to...’; it’s ‘I’d like us to try this together’.
Our best advice? Come into a store. Together. Our advisers will help you without judgement or embarrassment. The conversation gets easier when someone impartial takes the mystery out of it.
As for models, here’s what we recommend for starting out together: vibrating rings, stimulators worn during sex (our Split is designed for exactly that), remote-controlled vibrating eggs and connected sex toys that let one partner take control from afar.

How do you clean and care for your sex toys properly?

Let’s be direct. A poorly maintained sex toy carries a risk of infection. That’s not a minor detail or being fussy about hygiene; it’s a real risk.
The golden rule, and we’ll say it again: clean it before AND after every use. Warm water. pH-neutral soap. That’s it. No fuss.

Each material has its own little quirks.
Medical-grade silicone handles warm water and mild soap without a problem. Be careful with silicone-based lubes, though: over time, they damage the material. Choose a water-based lube instead.
Borosilicate glass is the easy one. Water, soap, and even the dishwasher for models with no motor. You can also sterilise it by placing it in boiling water for three minutes.
ABS and plastic need a gentler touch. Clean them quickly with water and soap; don’t soak them for long, or water can seep into the joins.

TPE and TPR are porous materials. That means bacteria can settle deep inside them. Clean them immediately after every use, and accept that they won’t last as long as silicone. That’s not a flaw; it’s a trade-off between price and durability.
What you should NEVER use: a flannel (a breeding ground for bacteria), scented soap (which can irritate mucous membranes), alcohol, bleach or household disinfectant. These products damage the materials or irritate your mucous membranes. A cleaning spray made for intimate toys costs around ten euros and makes life easier for months.
To dry, leave it in the open air on a clean towel. Avoid kitchen roll, which leaves behind fibres.

And storage? Use a fabric pouch, or the original box if you kept it. Avoid direct contact between two silicone toys, as some materials can react with each other over time. And remember to remove the batteries or charge the device before storing it for a long time. A battery left flat for too long may not recover.

Connected sex toys: innovation and pleasure tailored to you

Want to take the sensations up a notch? Connected sex toys open up possibilities that conventional models simply can’t offer.
The idea is simple. You control your toy remotely through a smartphone app. You create your own experiences. You sync the vibrations to your favourite music, a video or your partner’s voice. You let someone else take control, even from 10,000 kilometres away.

When it comes to brands, Lovense has set the standard since 2018. Its Lush 4 has become an icon: a vibrating egg your partner can control from anywhere in the world. The Hush 2 works on the same principle, but for anal play. And the Edge 2 brought connected prostate stimulation to a wider audience after years as a niche option.
Over at Lelo, the Sona 3 Cruise introduced a clever innovation: Cruise Control technology. In a light explanation, the intensity stays constant even when you press the device harder against your skin. It sounds like a minor detail. Except that used to be the exact moment stimulation dropped off, just when you needed it most.

Who is it actually for? Long-distance couples, obviously. Frequent travellers. But also anyone who wants to break out of a routine with customisable modes, libraries of vibrations shared between users (yes, that’s a thing) and audio scenarios. It opens the door to a more creative sex life, without inhibitions.

Naughty gift ideas: giving your partner a sex toy

Here’s a little secret. You don’t only buy a sex toy for yourself. More and more people give one to their partner for a special occasion. Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or an impromptu celebration of love on a rainy Tuesday.
But giving someone a sex toy isn’t like giving them a book. There are three rules to follow if you want it to go down well.
Rule number one: choose an approachable model, not the most technical product in the catalogue. A Womanizer Premium 2, a Sienna or a rabbit Bali will be received a thousand times better than a €200 connected prostate stimulator. Complexity can be daunting, especially for a first time. Keep it simple.

Rule number two: consider gift sets and packs that combine different sensations. Our 7-Day Gift Set and the Womanizer Premium Eco + Okï Pack offer a real range of experiences, rather than just one toy. It’s more generous, and more surprising too.
Rule number three: presentation is everything. Thoughtful wrapping, a card with a few sincere words and, ideally, an evening set aside to open the gift together. You’re not just giving an object. You’re offering an experience. All our orders are sent in discreet, plain packaging, with nothing on the outside to reveal the contents. No one will know.

And if you’re really stuck, our customer service team is here. By chat, phone or in store. Our advisers will guide you towards a gift that suits your partner. No embarrassment, no judgement, just a little humour when it helps.

Sex toys Q&A: everything you need to know before buying

Has using sex toys become common in France?

Yes, absolutely. According to the IFOP study for Passage du Désir, 51% of French people owned one in 2021. In 1992, that figure was around 9%. You read that right: in less than thirty years, it went from fewer than one in ten French people to one in two. And the figures are almost equal across genders: 52% of women and 49% of men. Using them as a couple is also on the rise, especially among young people (55% of 18- to 24-year-olds use them together).

Do sex toys have proven health benefits?

Yes, and there’s research to back it up. The 2021 clinical study ‘Menstrubation’, validated by Dr Christopher Ryan Jones, found that 70% of participants experienced less menstrual pain through regular masturbation. 42% even considered it as effective as a painkiller. And 62% of French users say their sex toy contributes to their overall sexual intimate essentials. This is about pleasure, but also health.

Which sex toy brand is the most reliable?

Trick question, because it all depends on what you’re looking for. Among manufacturers, Womanizer dominates the French market (used by nearly 40% of our customers). Then come Lelo (premium), Lovense (number one for connected toys), and our exclusive brands Hyyo and Black Edition, which make premium quality available at a more affordable price. Among retailers, Passage du Désir has a Net Promoter Score of 58. Doesn’t mean much to you? Let’s just say it’s well above the industry average (which is often negative). We’re proud of that, and it reflects our after-sales service.

Do sex toys replace a partner?

No. And it’s worth saying again, because some couples still have that fear.
A sex toy brings variety to pleasure, whether you’re alone or together. It doesn’t replace anyone. It adds to the experience; it doesn’t take its place. In fact, studies show that sex toy users have, on average, a more fulfilling sex life than people who have never tried one. The opposite of what you might think.

What’s the best sex toy?

There isn’t one, and that’s a good thing. The best sex toy is the one that suits you: your preferences, the area you want to stimulate, your experience and your budget. In France, Womanizer remains the leading brand thanks to its patented technology. But our Bali and Öki rabbits offer equally impressive value for money. And the Lelo Sona was even named ‘Best Sex Toy’ by 60 Millions de Consommateurs in July 2022. The best one is the one that’s right for you.

Can you take a sex toy on a plane?

Yes, without any problem in almost all cases. Sex toys are allowed in both hand luggage and checked baggage. Just one golden rule: remove the batteries or switch on the travel lock if your model has one. Nobody wants a sex toy turning itself on in the middle of a flight. For destinations with strict laws, such as the Emirates or some South-East Asian countries, check local regulations before you go. Better to spend five minutes on Google than have your toy confiscated at customs.