Sex toys

First sex toy? We won't lie to you, it can be intimidating. Too many models, too many promises, and the vague fear of getting it wrong with such a personal item. Here are the two real questions we advise you to explore. The rest is detail.

What type of stimulation are you looking for?

That's THE question. Everything starts here.
Are you looking for external clitoral stimulation? Head towards air pulse models, gold a small vibrating bullet if you want something simple. More of an internal, vaginal stimulation? A G-spot vibro, gold a vibrating dildo. And if you want both at the same time (yes it's possible, and yes it's brilliant), rabbits are made for that.

On the male side, same logic. Masturbator for the penis. Plug gold prostate stimulator for the prostate (a zone too often neglected, wrongly so). Vibrating ring if you want to combine both during intercourse.
A little bonus advice we often forget: silence. 27% of our customers cite it as the number one criterion, even before price. Makes sense. If you live in shared accommodation, with your parents, gold in a flat with thin walls (Paris, we see you), look for the mention "ultra silent".

What budget should you plan for a quality sex toy?

Under 40 euros, you can already find some very decent things to get started, and no more. The materials are sometimes less refined, the modes fewer. But the Plug Easy Rider at €19.90 gold the Rabbit Clark at €49.90 remain excellent first experiences. No need to break the bank to discover.
The €70–130 range is really where things get serious. That's the heart of the market. All our best-sellers live in this bracket: Womanizer Premium 2, stimulateur Sienna, Bali de Hyyo, Lush 4. Medical-grade silicone, silent motor, extended manufacturer's warranty. You're paying for reliability, not marketing.

Above €150, you enter the premium tier. Lelo Sona 3 Cruise, Womanizer Next. Award-winning designs, exclusive materials, patented technologies. Is it essential? No. Does it change the experience? Honestly, yes, especially in the long run.
One last thing. If you're really unsure, take our personalised diagnostic. Five minutes, a few questions, and we'll point you towards the right model. Not the most expensive one. Yours.

What are the different types of sex toys available?

We've already talked about the main categories. But the sex toy market also includes more specialised products that cater to specific desires. A quick overview of what we love to highlight at Passage du Désir.

• Air pulse sex toys. The great revolution of 2014, when Womanizer launched its first Pleasure Air. The concept? No direct contact with the skin. Just pressure waves that create a gentle suction, like a kiss without friction. If you tend to find vibrations too intense or if you are hypersensitive, this is probably your best entry point.

• Connected sex toys. Smartphone app, scenarios synchronised with a video or music, long-distance control. We'll go into more detail below, but this is the segment that has exploded since 2020.

• Glass sex toys. Underestimated. Borosilicate glass, ultra-smooth, 100% hypoallergenic. And above all, they allow a temperature play that nobody thinks of (place it in warm water gold a glass of iced water for a few minutes, and try it). Aesthetically, they're also the only ones you could almost display openly.

• Biodegradable sex toys. The Womanizer Premium Eco led the way. Still rare on the market, but growing. For those who want to combine pleasure with ecological awareness, it's a credible option.

• G-spot sex toys. Characteristic curved shape to reach this internal zone located about 5 to 7 cm from the vaginal entrance, on the front wall. Surgical precision, deep sensation.

• Discreet sex toys. Fake lipstick, fake jewellery, massage pebble. Nobody will guess. Ideal for travel, or simply if you share your bathroom with a curious flatmate.

Are sex toys suitable for use as a couple?

Yes. And it has even become the majority usage in France.
For a long time, sex toys were thought to be reserved for single people. Wrong. The IFOP study of 2021 conducted for Passage du Désir confirms it in black and white: 59% of users use their toys as much solo as in pairs. The majority, then.
And what's interesting is that it works. 62% of users confirm that their sex toy contributes to their couple's sexual well-being. Our Valentine's Day 2025 study goes even further. For what we call "Chill" couples (almost half of French people), the toy allows them to explore sexuality without performance pressure. More complicity, less stress, fewer expectations. It's exactly the opposite of the cliché.
The real subject is rather: how do you talk to your partner about it without awkwardness? The rule comes down to two words. Communication. Understanding.

Practically speaking: avoid bringing up the subject right after a disappointing encounter, gold worse, in the middle of an argument. Context kills the message. Choose a relaxed moment — a nice dinner, a weekend away. Present it as a shared exploration, never as an implicit criticism. It's not "you can't manage to...", it's "I'd love for us to try this together".
Our best advice? Come to the store. Together. Our advisors will guide you without judgement, without awkwardness. The conversation becomes easy when someone neutral demystifies the subject.
In terms of models, here's what we recommend to start as a couple: vibrating rings, stimulators worn during intercourse (our Split is designed exactly for that), remote control vibrating eggs, and all connected sex toys that let a partner take control from a distance.

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

Let's be direct. A poorly maintained sex toy is an infection risk. Not a minor detail, not a hygiene quirk — a real risk.
The golden rule, we'll say it again: clean before AND after every use. Lukewarm water. pH-neutral soap. That's it. No complications.

Now, each material has its own little particularities.
Medical-grade silicone accepts warm water and mild soap without any issue. Be careful however with silicone-based lubes, as they degrade the material over time. Opt for a water-based lube.
Borosilicate glass is the star pupil. Water, soap, and even the dishwasher for non-motorised models. You can also sterilise it by placing it in boiling water for three minutes.
ABS and plastic require a little more care. A quick clean with water and soap, no prolonged soaking otherwise water seeps into the joints.

TPE and TPR are porous materials. That means bacteria can lodge deep within them. Immediate care after each use, and accept that these materials have a shorter lifespan than silicone. It's not a flaw, it's a price-durability trade-off.
What you should NEVER use: a flannel (bacteria breeding ground), a scented / fragranced soap (irritation of mucous membranes), alcohol, bleach, a household disinfectant. These products degrade the materials gold aggravate your mucous membranes. A cleaning spray specifically for intimate toys costs around ten euros and makes your life easier for months.
For drying, air dry on a clean towel. No paper towels that leave fluff.

And storage? A fabric pouch, gold the original box if you've kept it. Avoid direct contact between two silicone toys — some materials can react with each other over time. And remember to remove the batteries gold charge the battery before long-term storage. A battery left discharged for too long won't recover.

Connected sex toys: innovations and tailored pleasure

Want to push sensations a notch further? Connected sex toys open up a playground that classic models simply cannot offer.
The concept is simple. You remotely control your toy via a smartphone app. You create your own scenarios. You synchronise the vibrations to your favourite music, to a video, to your partner's voice. You let someone else take control, even from 10,000 kilometres away.

On the brand side, Lovense has been the reference since 2018. Its model Lush 4 has become an icon — a vibrating egg your partner can control from anywhere in the world. The Hush 2 follows the same logic in an anal version. And the Edge 2 democratised connected prostate stimulation, long a niche area.
At Lelo, the Sona 3 Cruise introduced a clever innovation: Cruise Control technology. In plain terms, the intensity remains constant even when you press the device harder against the skin. It sounds like a minor detail. Except that's exactly the moment when stimulation used to be lost — right when you needed it most.

Who is it actually for? Long-distance couples, obviously. Frequent travellers. But also everyone who wants to break out of routine thanks to customisable modes, shared vibration libraries between users (yes, that exists) and audio scenarios. It's an open door to a more creative sexuality, without inhibition.

Naughty gift ideas: giving a sex toy to your partner

A little secret. You're not just buying a sex toy for yourself. More and more people are giving one to their partner for a special occasion. Valentine's Day, couple's anniversary, an impromptu lovers' celebration on a rainy Tuesday.
But giving a sex toy isn't like giving a book. There are three rules to follow to make it land well.
Rule number one: go for an accessible model, not the most technical product in the catalogue. A Womanizer Premium 2, a Sienna, or a rabbit Bali will be a thousand times better received than a connected prostate stimulator at €200. Complexity is intimidating, especially for a first time. Aim for simplicity.

Rule number two: think about gift sets and packs that combine several sensations. Our Coffret 7 jours or the Pack Womanizer Premium Eco + Okï offer a true range of experiences, not just a single toy in isolation. More generous, more surprising too.
Rule number three: presentation is everything. Careful packaging, a card with a few sincere words, ideally an evening planned for two to open the gift together. You're not giving an object. You're offering an experience. All our orders are shipped in discreet, neutral packaging, with no external mention of the contents. No one will know.

And if you're truly lost, our customer service team is here. Chat, phone, gold in store. Our advisors will guide you towards the gift that matches your partner's profile. No awkwardness, no judgement, just a touch of humour when needed.

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

Has using sex toys become common in France?

Yes, completely. 51% of French people owned one in 2021 according to the IFOP study for Passage du Désir. In 1992, that figure was around 9%. You read that right: we went from fewer than one in ten French people to one in two in less than thirty years. And the gender split is almost equal: 52% of women versus 49% of men. In terms of usage, couples are on the rise, especially among young people (55% of 18–24 year olds use them together).

Do sex toys have proven health benefits?

Yes, and it's documented. The clinical study "Menstrubation", conducted in 2021 and validated by Dr Christopher Ryan Jones, showed that 70% of participants saw their menstrual pain decrease through regular masturbation. 42% even consider the practice as effective as a painkiller. And 62% of French users confirm that their sex toy contributes to their overall sexual intimate essentials. We're talking about pleasure here, but also about health.

Which sex toy brand is the most reliable?

Tricky question, because it all depends on what you're looking for. On the manufacturer side, Womanizer dominates the French market by a wide margin (nearly 40% of users with us). Behind them, Lelo (premium), Lovense (n°1 in connected), and our exclusive brands Hyyo and Black Edition which offer access to premium quality at a more affordable price. On the retailer side, 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 (often negative). It's our pride, and it's what explains our after-sales service.

Do sex toys replace a partner?

No. And we like to say it again, because the fear still exists in some couples.
A sex toy varies pleasures, solo gold as a couple. It doesn't replace anyone. It enriches the experience, it doesn't replace it. Besides, studies show it: sex toy users have on average a more fulfilling sex life than those who have never tried one. The opposite of what people think.

What is the best sex toy?

There isn't one, and that's a good thing. The best sex toy is the one that suits you. Profile, zone to stimulate, experience, budget. In France, Womanizer remains the leading brand thanks to its patented technology. But our rabbits Bali and Öki offer an equally impressive value for money. And the Lelo Sona even received the title of "Best Sex Toy" by 60 Millions de Consommateurs in July 2022. The best one is yours.

Can you travel by plane with a sex toy?

Yes, without any issue in the vast majority of cases. Sex toys are allowed in cabin luggage as well as in the hold. One golden rule: remove the batteries, or activate the travel lock if the model has one. Nobody wants a sex toy that switches itself on in the middle of a flight. For destinations with strict legislation, such as the UAE or certain South-East Asian countries, check local regulations before you go. Better to spend five minutes on Google than have your equipment confiscated at customs.