15 Sensual Massage Techniques Your Partner Will Love
Are you curious to find out how to give a sensual massage that your partner won’t forget? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
A sensual or erotic massage can be a great way to connect with your partner on a deeper level and help you spice up the bedroom with ease. That is why we put together a beginner’s guide on how to give a sensual massage with 15 sensual massage techniques you want to try.
What Is a Sensual Massage?
A sensual (or erotic or intimate) massage is a full-body massage that involves engaging different senses to elicit sexual pleasure for the receiving partner.
Unlike a traditional massage that focuses on muscle tension, a sensual or sexual massage is about awakening every inch of your partner’s body—physically, emotionally, and erotically.
While a sensual massage often involves stimulation of intimate areas and is fully focused on sexual pleasure, it is by no means a race to an orgasm. It’s all about relaxing and allowing yourself to experience different sensations and enjoy the feel of your partner's hands on your body rather than rushing to climax.
How to Give a Sensual Massage Your Partner Won’t Forget: 15 Sensual Massage Techniques. Ready to blow your partner’s mind. Here’s how to give a sensual massage at home, even if you’re a total beginner:
1. Communicate Desires
Before your hands even touch their skin, start with a sexy check-in.
Ask your partner: “Is there anything you’d love me to focus on?” or “Are you in the mood for something relaxing, erotic… or both?”
This is the best time to learn what floats their boat and how exactly they like to be touched to bring them the most pleasure.
2. Set the Mood
Lighting, scent, and sound are your allies here. Think: low lighting, soft music, essential oils diffusing in the air, and maybe a few candles to cast a warm, flickering glow.
You want your space to feel safe, sacred, and just a little sinful.
3. Gather the Tools
You don’t need a full spa kit—just a few sensual essentials:
Massage oil: No massage oil, no sensual massage! Rubbing your dry hands against your partner’s skin is not sexy, trust us. There are many different options on the market, but we love Sensuva's Intimate Earth Aromatherapy Oil.
A towel or old sheet: To prevent spilling massage oil and bodily liquids on your favorite sheets, and to minimize the clean up, have a towel on hand and place an old sheet under your partner so you can play freely. We recommend you invest in a high-quality splash blanket, but it’s not a must.
Blindfold: Just in case you want to explore sensory deprivation.
Sensory toys: To expand sensory exploration, consider using tools like feathers or sensory fingertips.
Warm up your massage oil before applying. Cold oil can be a mood killer, unless you’re into the icy temperature play.
4. Make Undressing Into an Experience
Instead of rushing through clothes-off mode, turn it into a striptease—slow, teasing, intentional.
Unbutton their shirt one clasp at a time. Slide your fingers beneath the waistband. Let your gaze linger.
Allow them to undress you. Or, have them sit and watch you strip from afar.
5. Use Plenty of Massage Oil
Warm, slippery oil not only feels divine but lets your hands glide with ease. Pour a generous amount into your palms, rub them together, and press into the skin with slow, deliberate strokes.
6. Slow Seduction
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to an erotic massage. Think tortoise, not hare.
Move at half the pace you’re tempted to. The goal? Build anticipation.
Use long strokes, circular motions, and pause occasionally—just to let them ache a little for your touch. And make sure every inch of their skin is loved and cared for.
7. Introduce Temperature Play
Spice things up with some warm temperature play—get a sensual massage candle that doubles as a massage oil once the wax is melted.
Want to turn the heat up? Use a low-temperature candle to drip some wax on your partner. Wax play is hot and thrilling.
Not into extreme heat? Not a problem.
Run an ice cube along their collarbone. Blow warm air over the trail.
Alternate warm massage oil with a cooler touch. The contrast will heighten their awareness and sensitivity.
8. Check in With Them
Communication is key beforehand, but it’s also key during the sensual massage, too.
A whisper of “how does that feel?” or “want more pressure here?” keeps the vibe open and sexy. Let them feel seen and desired—not just touched.
9. Focus on the Whole Body
Don’t rush to the obvious erogenous zones. Linger on overlooked areas: scalp, neck, hands, behind the knees, inner thighs.
You’re not just giving a massage — you’re building a journey of sensation.
10. Zone In on the Intimate Areas
When the time is right, ease into more erotic massage techniques.
Massage the inner thighs, hips, and pelvis before touching the genitals. Tease, hover, graze — keep them guessing.
11. Edge Them a Little
Bring them close… then back off. It’s called edging, and it’s a powerful way to build mind-blowing arousal.
Massage near their most sensitive spots, then retreat. Their body will be buzzing for more.
Repeat until they’re begging for you to let them cum.
12. The Power of Eye Contact
Eye contact is seriously underrated.
Lock eyes. Watch their reactions. Let your gaze say, I want every inch of you. Eye contact during a sensual massage builds trust and erotic tension like nothing else.
13. Breathe Together
Want to turn your sensual massage into a tantric experience? Try breathing together.
Sync your breathing with theirs. Go slow. Deep. Intentional. Breathwork connects your bodies and helps keep you both present in the moment.
Besides, deep breathing helps to improve blood circulation, which will heighten sensations in your partner’s body.
14. Use Sex Toys on Them
Bring your favorite toy into the mix — a bullet vibe, a wand, or even a warming plug. Just be sure to check in, use lube, and keep things playful.
A toy adds an extra layer of sensations, which can be exactly what your partner needs to help them get over the edge while your hands are busy massaging the tension out of their muscles.
15. Aftercare Is a Must
Massage can unlock big feelings, arousal, or deep relaxation. After you’re done, offer water, cuddles, or gentle affirmations. Let your partner feel safe, held, and loved.
6 Types of Sensual Massages
Believe it or not, there are different types of sensual massage techniques you can give your partner! Here are some that you can choose from:
1. Nuru Massage
It’s a Japanese erotic massage technique that involves full body-on-body contact. Both the receiving and giving partners are naked, and they both lather their bodies with massage oil. Then, the giving partner rubs their body against the receiving partner’s body. It can end with intercourse, but it doesn’t have to.
2. Yoni Massage
This is a tantric sex practice that’s focused on worshiping the vulva. The receiving partner with a vulva relaxes while the giving partner massages the vulva with their hands. The focus here is pleasurable stimulation and not orgasm.
3. Lingam Massage
Lingam massage is a tantric sex practice that’s focused on worshiping the penis. The receiving partner with a penis lays down and relaxes, while the giving partner focuses on massaging the penis and the area around it with their hands.
4. Soapy Massage
Not all sensual massages have to happen while lying down. A soapy massage involves giving the massage while in the shower (an easy way to take shower sex from great to thrilling). The giving partner washes their partner in the shower while giving them a massage at the same time.
And you know what’s the best part? You can get as dirty as you like because the cleanup is super easy!
5. Tantric Massage
It’s a full-body and genital massage that combines pleasure and spiritual work and is full of light touches. So, unlike regular erotic massage, tantric massage involves meditation, breathwork, and energy work. It can be highly erotic and connecting for both partners.
6. Happy Ending Massage
While all the other types of massages are focused more on the pleasure and the experience of giving and receiving a massage, a happy ending massage is all about the receiver reaching an orgasm. So, the giving partner uses their hands, mouth, and tools to give the receiving partner an orgasm (or a few…).