Kissing. And why it feels so damn good.

Why you should be making out more, the science of kissing + my fave tips for a good sesh.

WHY does it feel so good? Kissing is so much more than (epic) foreplay. 

When we kiss, we receive an influx of healthy, happy hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin – known to induce feelings of intimacy with your tongue buddy and play an important role in chemical bonding. 

Our saliva also contains sex hormones – testosterone and estrogen. Both are responsible for arousal and sex drive, which may be why a French kiss boosts libido and enhances intensity.

During a kiss, it’s possible to sample a ‘pheromone signature’ from your partner, which relates to something called the Major Histocompatability Complex (MHC). The MHC is an immune system signifier which can help our body determine whether a partner/mate is ‘suitable’ (from an evolutionary standpoint, a more diverse MHC is an advantage). It’s thought then, that we’ll find a partner with a complimentary (read: different) MHC more attractive. 

Kromer et al., 2016, ‘Influence of HLA on human partnership and sexual satisfaction’, Sci Rep.

Quick Tips.

Slow the f*ck down. Work with your partner to build intensity (slowly!) whilst creating a solid rhythm and getting in sync.

Tongue fun. Less = more. A good rule of thumb (or is that…tongue?) is to start by keeping your tongue in line with your lips and exploring deeper as the intensity builds.

Loving it? Try more dynamic tongue movements, playing with their tongue or lips.

Add a little bite. Go for a gentle nibble of their lips before building pressure or intensity if they’re into it.

Use your body. Kissing can (and should) be a full body affair. Caress your partner’s face or body whilst locking lips (check our recent post on Dry Humping for inspiration).

Beyond the lips. Once you’ve found your kissing groove, explore running your lips along other parts of your partner’s body – their neck, chest, cheeks or ears (trust me on this one).

Bring back the make-out. For those days when getting naked or having penetrative sex isn’t feeling so exciting. Making out is a fun and pleasurable way to connect with a partner, relieve stress and access a bunch of feel-good hormones.